Ficlet: Journey's End
Sep. 14th, 2008 06:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fandomcornerTitle: Journey's End
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hils
Rating: PG
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Words: 1715
Summary: Lex's quest takes a different direction
Inspired bybagheera_san's idea to write a missing scene ficlet for each new episode. This is my offering for Quest.
Thanks todanceswithgary for the beta
Lex felt a sensation of wonder and awe sweep over him as he entered the cavernous nave of St. Christopher’s Cathedral. The irony wasn’t lost on him. He was in a building dedicated to the patron saint of travellers and his journey to find the mysterious traveller was almost at an end.
He barely felt the pain of his wounds as he walked towards the back of the building. His entire body was trembling in anticipation. Years of work, research, and emotional energy had gone into getting him to this point. His father had died keeping the identity of the traveller a secret. Finally, Lex was going to find the answers to so many of his questions, and he knew all the pain and suffering would be worth it.
He could hear the ticking of the clock he sought, and his heart started pounding so hard it actually hurt, but a frown crossed his features as his ears picked up another noise. It was the sound of someone groaning in pain. He hesitated. The groans were coming from beneath him.
The rational part of his brain told him to press on, that the clock was the only thing that mattered. The other part of his brain, the one that more often that not led him into trouble, told him to investigate. Even as he headed down the stairs, he could hear his father scoffing and predicting his curiosity would be his downfall. As Lex had often done when his father was alive, he ignored Lionel's spectre and continued walking.
He had no idea how far he'd descended, but it was clear that he was in a section of the crypt. The muffled cries that had lured him downward appeared to have stopped, and Lex was reluctant to reveal his presence to anyone else present. Instead, he headed towards the dim candlelight at the end of the corridor he was walking down, and carefully pushed the door open.
“Clark?”
It was little more than a gasped whisper as Lex beheld his former best friend strapped to a stone altar, blood flowing freely from the wounds on his chest. For a moment, Lex couldn’t move, and the only thought that entered his head was that this was how he must have looked when his security team had found him after the attack at the mansion. It was enough to propel him forward.
“Clark? Can you hear me?”
Clark’s face was slick with sweat and he appeared to be unconscious. It was only after several attempts to wake him that Lex noticed the green liquid running in rivulets around Clark’s body. He’d studied the green meteor rocks long enough to recognise them in their liquid form, and he also knew bringing anyone into contact with them was never a good thing.
Deciding on a different course of action, Lex moved around to the end of the altar and hefted a stone statue that was sitting on the floor. Ignoring the screaming pain of his own wound, he dropped it several times atop the altar until enough of the platform broke away to allow the green liquid to drain back into the container that had originally held it. When the altar was clear, Lex replaced the lid on the container and turned his attention back to Clark, who was already beginning to revive.
What he wasn’t prepared for was the shimmering light that engulfed Clark for a few seconds, leaving the younger man without a scratch on him when it faded.
A cold realisation fell over Lex as he stepped back from the altar, the certainty of what he had just seen hitting him like a kick to the gut. He’d suspected, of course, but he’d always tried to rationalise it in his head. Even during their most vicious argument following his father’s death, Lex had never allowed himself more than an idle conjecture about who or what Clark Kent really was.
Now he knew.
“Lex? What are you doing here?”
He hadn’t even noticed Clark waking up and swinging his legs over the edge of the altar. Now Lex allowed himself to look. Not only had all of Clark’s injuries healed, but his skin also seemed to glow. He looked, for lack of a better word, perfect. It wasn’t the first time Lex had found himself thinking about how perfect Clark Kent was, but this was different. Everything was different…now.
“It’s you,” was all he could bring himself to say.
He watched as Clark glanced down at his bare chest, and Lex could almost see Clark’s heart sink as he realised what Lex had observed.
“Lex, I can explain.”
No, he wasn’t going to go through the lies again. They were beyond that now.
“Explain what, Clark? That I’ve devoted years of my life searching for the traveller only to discover he’s been right under my nose the entire time? That every time I’ve confronted you with the amazing things you’ve done, you managed to convince me that I'd imagined it? That our entire friendship has been based on a lie? How do you explain that, Clark? I’d love to hear it.”
“Our friendship was never a lie to me, Lex. I didn’t tell you about my abilities for the same reason I didn’t tell anyone else. I was scared. Look at what Mr. Teague did to me when he found out who I was and that I didn’t want to follow some destiny he’d mapped out for me. Come on, you know me. I’m just a Kansas farm boy.”
Lex couldn’t help himself and he took a step closer to Clark. “I think we both know you’re so much more than that, Clark.”
“So, what, now you know the truth about me you’re going to finish your quest to control me? I can’t help the way I am, Lex. I just want a normal life.”
While Clark had been talking, Lex’s mind had been racing, considering what to do with this new information. He had to admit that the idea of controlling Clark had a certain appeal but, at the same time, how could he consider the traveller to be a threat when it was someone that up until recently he would have given his life for. For so long his goal had been clear, and now he didn’t know what to do.
“Clark…” The words weren’t easy to say but he pressed on. This could be the last chance he had to say them after all. “I’ve loved you since the day we met. I think part of me still does but….”
“But you still want to destroy him,” a new voice finished as Edward Teague entered the room. “Of course you do, Lex. This is your destiny. Funny, I knew the destroyer of the traveller existed, but I never imagined it would be little Alexander Luthor.”
A green light filled the room as Edward removed the top from his cane to reveal a chunk of the green meteor rock. Lex was only faintly surprised when Clark grunted in pain and toppled off the edge of the altar. Of course, all beings had a weakness. This was Clark’s, and he was amazed he’d never realised it before.
He was almost surprised when Edward thrust the cane into his hands.
“Clark refuses to embrace his destiny, perhaps you will fare better. Destroy him.”
The cane was heavy in his hands, and Lex was interested to see that when he brought it closer to Clark the light brightened.
“Please,” he heard Clark whisper as he writhed in pain on the floor. “Please don’t do this.”
There was that voice in his head again, telling him he couldn’t possibly murder Clark Kent. However, over the top of that whisper, was the voice screaming that he had to do this for the sake of all humanity.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured softly and raised the cane above his head, ready to bring the crystalline tip down on Clark’s skull.
“Please,” Clark repeated with a barely audible voice. “I love you.”
Lex hesitated, and hated himself for doing so. It was a lie, of course. Clark was saying whatever he could to save his own life, and Lex knew that. Still, he’d waited too many years to hear those words fall from Clark’s lips and he didn’t want it to end.
“Finish him,” Edward hissed. “It is your destiny to destroy. Kill him.”
He was right. Images flashed through his mind of all those who had died at his hands or because of his actions. Finally, his mind settled on Cassandra, whose heart had failed when she had glimpsed his future. Even then, she had known what he would become.
“You’re right,” he finally agreed. “All I know how to do is destroy.”
He swung the cane around, striking Teague in the temple and watching with satisfaction as he crumpled into an unconscious heap. Then he smashed the cane against the wall, shattering the end so that the only light in the room was from the candles.
“I think I’m finished being destiny’s bitch.”
When he turned back to Clark, he found his former friend on his feet staring at him.
“Lex…I…you….”
He couldn’t help but smile. Even at his age, Clark was still cute when he stammered like this.
“It’s all right, Clark. I know you didn’t mean it and…mmph!”
His brain completely shut down as Clark kissed him, and all he could do was stand there, rigid, gaping like an idiot.
“I meant every word, Lex.” Clark insisted with a gentle smile. “And thank you for saving me.”
“I…uh…you’re welcome.”
This was not how he had imagined this day going. In fact, it was so far away from what he had imagined his mind could barely process it.
“Shall we get out of here?” Clark asked, already leading Lex out of the room and back up the stairs.
“Back to Smallville?” Lex wondered as they re-entered the nave.
“I still have to find a way to help Lana,” Clark answered. “But, after that, maybe we should take a vacation. Together.”
“I’d like that.”
As they left the cathedral, the clock, the reason Lex had come here in the first place, struck midnight.
A new day.
A new beginning.
The End
Author:
hilsRating: PG
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Words: 1715
Summary: Lex's quest takes a different direction
Inspired by
bagheera_san's idea to write a missing scene ficlet for each new episode. This is my offering for Quest.Thanks to
danceswithgary for the betaLex felt a sensation of wonder and awe sweep over him as he entered the cavernous nave of St. Christopher’s Cathedral. The irony wasn’t lost on him. He was in a building dedicated to the patron saint of travellers and his journey to find the mysterious traveller was almost at an end.
He barely felt the pain of his wounds as he walked towards the back of the building. His entire body was trembling in anticipation. Years of work, research, and emotional energy had gone into getting him to this point. His father had died keeping the identity of the traveller a secret. Finally, Lex was going to find the answers to so many of his questions, and he knew all the pain and suffering would be worth it.
He could hear the ticking of the clock he sought, and his heart started pounding so hard it actually hurt, but a frown crossed his features as his ears picked up another noise. It was the sound of someone groaning in pain. He hesitated. The groans were coming from beneath him.
The rational part of his brain told him to press on, that the clock was the only thing that mattered. The other part of his brain, the one that more often that not led him into trouble, told him to investigate. Even as he headed down the stairs, he could hear his father scoffing and predicting his curiosity would be his downfall. As Lex had often done when his father was alive, he ignored Lionel's spectre and continued walking.
He had no idea how far he'd descended, but it was clear that he was in a section of the crypt. The muffled cries that had lured him downward appeared to have stopped, and Lex was reluctant to reveal his presence to anyone else present. Instead, he headed towards the dim candlelight at the end of the corridor he was walking down, and carefully pushed the door open.
“Clark?”
It was little more than a gasped whisper as Lex beheld his former best friend strapped to a stone altar, blood flowing freely from the wounds on his chest. For a moment, Lex couldn’t move, and the only thought that entered his head was that this was how he must have looked when his security team had found him after the attack at the mansion. It was enough to propel him forward.
“Clark? Can you hear me?”
Clark’s face was slick with sweat and he appeared to be unconscious. It was only after several attempts to wake him that Lex noticed the green liquid running in rivulets around Clark’s body. He’d studied the green meteor rocks long enough to recognise them in their liquid form, and he also knew bringing anyone into contact with them was never a good thing.
Deciding on a different course of action, Lex moved around to the end of the altar and hefted a stone statue that was sitting on the floor. Ignoring the screaming pain of his own wound, he dropped it several times atop the altar until enough of the platform broke away to allow the green liquid to drain back into the container that had originally held it. When the altar was clear, Lex replaced the lid on the container and turned his attention back to Clark, who was already beginning to revive.
What he wasn’t prepared for was the shimmering light that engulfed Clark for a few seconds, leaving the younger man without a scratch on him when it faded.
A cold realisation fell over Lex as he stepped back from the altar, the certainty of what he had just seen hitting him like a kick to the gut. He’d suspected, of course, but he’d always tried to rationalise it in his head. Even during their most vicious argument following his father’s death, Lex had never allowed himself more than an idle conjecture about who or what Clark Kent really was.
Now he knew.
“Lex? What are you doing here?”
He hadn’t even noticed Clark waking up and swinging his legs over the edge of the altar. Now Lex allowed himself to look. Not only had all of Clark’s injuries healed, but his skin also seemed to glow. He looked, for lack of a better word, perfect. It wasn’t the first time Lex had found himself thinking about how perfect Clark Kent was, but this was different. Everything was different…now.
“It’s you,” was all he could bring himself to say.
He watched as Clark glanced down at his bare chest, and Lex could almost see Clark’s heart sink as he realised what Lex had observed.
“Lex, I can explain.”
No, he wasn’t going to go through the lies again. They were beyond that now.
“Explain what, Clark? That I’ve devoted years of my life searching for the traveller only to discover he’s been right under my nose the entire time? That every time I’ve confronted you with the amazing things you’ve done, you managed to convince me that I'd imagined it? That our entire friendship has been based on a lie? How do you explain that, Clark? I’d love to hear it.”
“Our friendship was never a lie to me, Lex. I didn’t tell you about my abilities for the same reason I didn’t tell anyone else. I was scared. Look at what Mr. Teague did to me when he found out who I was and that I didn’t want to follow some destiny he’d mapped out for me. Come on, you know me. I’m just a Kansas farm boy.”
Lex couldn’t help himself and he took a step closer to Clark. “I think we both know you’re so much more than that, Clark.”
“So, what, now you know the truth about me you’re going to finish your quest to control me? I can’t help the way I am, Lex. I just want a normal life.”
While Clark had been talking, Lex’s mind had been racing, considering what to do with this new information. He had to admit that the idea of controlling Clark had a certain appeal but, at the same time, how could he consider the traveller to be a threat when it was someone that up until recently he would have given his life for. For so long his goal had been clear, and now he didn’t know what to do.
“Clark…” The words weren’t easy to say but he pressed on. This could be the last chance he had to say them after all. “I’ve loved you since the day we met. I think part of me still does but….”
“But you still want to destroy him,” a new voice finished as Edward Teague entered the room. “Of course you do, Lex. This is your destiny. Funny, I knew the destroyer of the traveller existed, but I never imagined it would be little Alexander Luthor.”
A green light filled the room as Edward removed the top from his cane to reveal a chunk of the green meteor rock. Lex was only faintly surprised when Clark grunted in pain and toppled off the edge of the altar. Of course, all beings had a weakness. This was Clark’s, and he was amazed he’d never realised it before.
He was almost surprised when Edward thrust the cane into his hands.
“Clark refuses to embrace his destiny, perhaps you will fare better. Destroy him.”
The cane was heavy in his hands, and Lex was interested to see that when he brought it closer to Clark the light brightened.
“Please,” he heard Clark whisper as he writhed in pain on the floor. “Please don’t do this.”
There was that voice in his head again, telling him he couldn’t possibly murder Clark Kent. However, over the top of that whisper, was the voice screaming that he had to do this for the sake of all humanity.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured softly and raised the cane above his head, ready to bring the crystalline tip down on Clark’s skull.
“Please,” Clark repeated with a barely audible voice. “I love you.”
Lex hesitated, and hated himself for doing so. It was a lie, of course. Clark was saying whatever he could to save his own life, and Lex knew that. Still, he’d waited too many years to hear those words fall from Clark’s lips and he didn’t want it to end.
“Finish him,” Edward hissed. “It is your destiny to destroy. Kill him.”
He was right. Images flashed through his mind of all those who had died at his hands or because of his actions. Finally, his mind settled on Cassandra, whose heart had failed when she had glimpsed his future. Even then, she had known what he would become.
“You’re right,” he finally agreed. “All I know how to do is destroy.”
He swung the cane around, striking Teague in the temple and watching with satisfaction as he crumpled into an unconscious heap. Then he smashed the cane against the wall, shattering the end so that the only light in the room was from the candles.
“I think I’m finished being destiny’s bitch.”
When he turned back to Clark, he found his former friend on his feet staring at him.
“Lex…I…you….”
He couldn’t help but smile. Even at his age, Clark was still cute when he stammered like this.
“It’s all right, Clark. I know you didn’t mean it and…mmph!”
His brain completely shut down as Clark kissed him, and all he could do was stand there, rigid, gaping like an idiot.
“I meant every word, Lex.” Clark insisted with a gentle smile. “And thank you for saving me.”
“I…uh…you’re welcome.”
This was not how he had imagined this day going. In fact, it was so far away from what he had imagined his mind could barely process it.
“Shall we get out of here?” Clark asked, already leading Lex out of the room and back up the stairs.
“Back to Smallville?” Lex wondered as they re-entered the nave.
“I still have to find a way to help Lana,” Clark answered. “But, after that, maybe we should take a vacation. Together.”
“I’d like that.”
As they left the cathedral, the clock, the reason Lex had come here in the first place, struck midnight.
A new day.
A new beginning.
The End
