Curiouser III

by Caroline

http://linabean4.tripod.com

NOTES: Sequel to "Curious" (http://linabean4.tripod.com/itsheragain/curious.html) and "Curiouser and Curiouser" (http://linabean4.tripod.com/itsheragain/curiouserandcuriouser.html)

FEEDBACK: Oh, you know, I do this all for you, in the desperate hope that you'll notice and acknowledge--ha ha ha. I'm kidding. I do it for me, because I think it's fun. But I really do like getting feedback. A whole lot. I'm fannishbean@gmail.com

Curious III
by Caroline

Lex settled back in his chair, put his feet up on the desk, and inspected the crumpled ball of lead in his hand.

"You know, William, this used to be a box. It came, most recently, from Morocco."

"Yes, sir," William said.

"It was purportedly made from the armor of St. George," Lex commented, turning it from side to side.

"The dragon-slayer," William said. "Patron saint of Boy Scouts."

"And of England," Lex said.

"Also, I believe, Catalonia," William said.

Lex nodded. "We can't forget Catalonia." He switched the ball of metal to his right hand, running the fingers of his left hand over the bumps and fissures. "My mother gave it to me before she died."

William nodded.

"I like it better this way, don't you?" Lex said. "It has so many more facets."

"Yes, sir," William said.

Lex swung his legs down to the floor, set down the crumpled metal, and smiled. "You can call me Lex for now."

William smiled. "Sure, Lex."

"Come here," Lex said, nodding to the desk in front of him.

William came and sat on the desk before Lex, his legs slightly spread.

Lex ran his hands along William's thighs, then looked up at him and smiled.

Clark stood by a tree on the Luthor property, looking through the walls of the mansion into Lex's study.

He made a face.

"Fucking pervert..." he muttered.

He turned away and leaned against the tree.

He closed his eyes.

Lex, going down on some guy, grinning and taking his cock into his mouth, swallowing it...

Clark screwed his face up and rubbed himself hard through his jeans.

He stopped with a shiver and sighed.

"No, officer," he whispered. "We're all perverts here."

"Clark," Jonathan said when Clark came in. "We were looking for you. We've already had supper."

"I was taking a walk," Clark said.

"Let us know when you're going to do that, all right?" Jonathan said. "You know what time you're supposed to be home for supper."

Clark shrugged.

"Chloe called," Jonathan said. "She said she's worried about you."

"Yeah, well," Clark said, "Chloe wants to turn everything into a conspiracy or a melodrama."

"What's going on, Clark?" Jonathan said.

"Nothing," Clark said. "Would you stop asking me that? Jesus."

He started out of the room.

"Clark," Jonathan said sternly.

Clark came back in, his head lowered. He sighed. "Sorry, Dad," he said. "It's just, you know. The adolescent hormones. I've moved on from the growth-spurt voice-cracking part to the being-a-jerk part."

Jonathan looked at him, then nodded. "How have you been getting along with the...fire vision?"

"Good," Clark said. "When I feel my eyes start to get hot, I can just close them, and nothing gets set on fire."

"All right," Jonathan said. "That's good."

"Thanks for, you know, helping me practice."

Jonathan nodded. "Your food is in the fridge," he said.

Clark nodded. "Thanks."

He headed upstairs.

"You're not going to eat?" Jonathan called.

"I'm, um..." Clark called back. "Not hungry right now."

Clark picked up a small rock and threw it at the main building of the old foundry.

He walked closer, approaching the entrance. At the doorway, he froze as a beetle skittered past him. He watched it hurry under some leaves, and he turned and moved inside the building.

He stopped and looked around, shaking a little. He winced and held his hand over his stomach. He made his way across the floor to the piece of lead he'd hidden behind before. He sat behind it and took a deep breath.

He looked around the corner, wincing again and seeing a meteorite chunk. He turned back and pulled his work gloves out of his jacket. He put them on and came out from behind the piece of lead.

He unsteadily walked over to the meteorite and picked it up. He brought it closer to his face, inspecting it. He dropped it and bent over, hands on his knees.

After a moment, he straightened up again. He squared his shoulders, then picked up the rock again. Holding it away from his body, he turned it around in his hands, then brought it closer to himself. He turned his head, heaved, and threw up. He rolled his eyes and wiped his mouth with the back of his arm.

He tossed the rock in the direction of his makeshift shield. He got up and walked over, kicking the rock with his boots so it was right in front of the lead. He retched once, then got behind the lead again.

He sat up straight. "Hm," he said. He nodded and tapped his thumb against his chest.

He came out from behind it again and sat next to the rock. He clutched his stomach, his eyes watering. He sat and stared at the meteorite. He put his fingers against his temples and started rubbing in small, firm circles. The movement slowed, and then his hands dropped weakly to his lap.

He fell back a little, barely able to prop himself up on his arms. He didn't take his gaze off the meteorite. He retched again, then crawled back behind the shield.

He sat there a little while.

He looked around at the old equipment.

He came back out and sat in the same spot. He swallowed hard, his throat working. He slumped, resting his head against his shoulder. He blinked several times, then picked up the meteorite.

With his right hand, he held it away from himself and shook his left arm, getting his sleeve to slip, exposing his forearm. He compressed his lips and winced as he slowly brought the rock toward his left arm. He looked away as he touched the rock to his skin.

He cried out and dropped the meteorite again. A couple of tears trickled down his cheeks. He shook himself, then unsteadily picked up the meteorite. He brought it to his arm again, pressing it harder against his skin, holding it there.

A whine escaped his lips. Panting, he dropped the rock and crawled back behind the lead shield.

He watched the angry marks on his arm quickly fade.

He sat and stared at the wall. He whistled under his breath. He rolled his neck a little.

He came out halfway from behind the shield. He immediately started retching, which turned into a coughing fit. The coughing eventually petered out and he cleared his throat.

He crawled to the meteorite. He held it in front of his face and opened his mouth, poking his tongue out. He winced, then quickly touched his tongue to the rock. He passed out.

When he came to, he could barely lift his head. He stared at the meteorite and feebly pushed it away with his hand. He tried to swallow, but his tongue was too swollen. He dragged himself back behind the lead.

He shook his head and sat up straight. He waggled his tongue around.

"Wow," he said.

Clark pulled the truck up to the usual side entrance of Lex's residence. He unloaded the crate of produce and started to bring it in. He bit his lip when he saw Lex approach him.

"Hi, Clark," Lex said.

Clark nodded, looking at the crate he was holding.

"You know, I've been having the feeling that there are some things we should have a chat about," Lex said. "Do you want to stay and talk?"

Clark set down the box and said evenly, "I have work to do."

"Of course," Lex said. "So do I, really...you know, running a plant. It keeps a man busy. But I'd be happy to schedule you in sometime."

"Great," Clark said.

He left.

Clark awoke with a start to find his mom shaking him gently.

"Honey," she said. "You were calling out."

Clark blinked and slowly sat up. "Oh. Oh, sorry."

"It's okay." She turned on his bedside lamp.

He winced a little.

"Sorry," she said quietly.

"What was I saying?" he asked.

"No words, really," Martha said. "You just sounded upset."

"Oh." Clark nodded.

"Do you remember what it was about?"

He stretched and yawned. "No."

"You haven't had any nightmares in a long time," she said.

"Oh, yeah, I used to have them all the time, didn't I," he said.

She nodded. "Are you worried about something?"

"No, not really," Clark said. "Just...you know. It's been a busy couple of months. I find out I'm an alien, and I keep developing weird powers, and crazed killer mutants are popping up all over the place..."

"Right," Martha said. "Pretty scary stuff."

"Yeah," Clark said.

She touched his cheek and smiled softly at him. "You want to come downstairs and have some cereal and milk? It always seemed to work before."

Clark smiled back. "No, thanks. I'm just gonna go back to sleep."

"Okay," Martha said. "Good night, sweetie."

"G'night, Mom," he said.

She turned the light off and quietly closed his bedroom door behind her.

Clark turned onto his side and lay awake for the rest of the night.

Clark stood at the front door and nodded to the woman who answered it. "I don't suppose...Mr. Luthor's around."

"I'm afraid he's currently engaged..." she said.

The door opened wider and a man appeared. Clark squinted at him.

"You're Mr. Kent?" the man asked.

"Yeah," Clark said.

"Please come in," he said. "I'll check on Mr. Luthor's availability."

Clark nodded. "I appreciate it."

"May I take your coat, sir?" the woman asked.

Clark smiled thinly and shook his head at her. "I'm fine, thanks."

"Shall I ask Rose to bring you anything?" the man asked.

Clark raised his eyebrows at him.

"Something to drink, perhaps?" he said.

"Nah," Clark said.

"As you wish," the man said. "Please make yourself comfortable."

He left.

Rose nodded to him and left too.

Clark stood for a moment, his hands behind his back, then slowly walked around the room, tilting his head to better look at various knickknacks.

He straightened up when the man came back.

"Mr. Luthor will be with you shortly, Mr. Kent," he said.

Clark nodded. "Nice of him."

"Yes, sir," the man said.

"So what's your name," Clark said blandly.

"William, sir," he said.

"William," Clark repeated. He nodded. "And what's your job around here?"

"I'm Mr. Luthor's personal assistant," William said.

Clark smirked. "'Personal assistant.' That's what they're calling it."

"Yes, sir," William said.

"Okay," Clark said, shrugging. "Everybody's got to make a living, right?"

"Yes, sir," William said.

Clark nodded and crossed his arms, tapping his fingers lightly on his arm.

"If I may take my leave, sir," William said. "Mr. Luthor will meet you here."

"Bye," Clark said.

He wandered down the great hall a little, inspecting the tapestries. He turned when he heard Lex's voice.

"Clark," Lex said. "I'm glad to see you."

"Yeah," Clark said.

"So this is your study," Clark said, settling into an armchair.

"One of them," Lex said. He stood, leaning slightly on the desk. "I like it better than the others; it's more intimate."

"Mm," Clark said. "So what'd you want to talk about?"

"It's a good question," Lex said. "I'm not quite sure where we should start."

Clark nodded to the ball of crumpled metal on Lex's desk. "You're keeping that?"

Lex picked it up and held it in one hand. "Yes, it's very dear to me."

Clark made a face. "Oh, did I hurt your feelings when I ruined it?"

"Of course, Clark," Lex said. "I was very sad. My mother gave it to me before she died."

Clark shrugged.

"Did you want to make me sad?" Lex asked.

Clark shrugged again. "Really, I didn't think you'd be capable of the emotion."

"Of course I am," Lex said. "I have all the same feelings you do, Clark."

Clark laughed quietly.

Lex smiled at him. "But you'd rather not believe that. You're happier believing that I'm a clear-cut villain, not a person with human emotions."

"I was perfectly willing to think of you as a respectable human being," Clark said. "I think that probably stopped when you threatened to run me over with your car? Or it might have been when you pretended to kiss me for some reason. Or we could just go with the knife in the back--it sounds cliched, but something about getting stabbed in the back makes me think of...I don't know. Betrayal, maybe."

"What did I betray, Clark?" Lex asked. "I wasn't hiding anything from you."

"Oh, right," Clark said. "I deserved it, because I didn't tell you about everything that makes me a freak. You're right, you should have threatened me a long time ago."

"How did I threaten you?" Lex asked. "You knew that the car, or the knife, couldn't hurt you."

"You didn't know that!" Clark said. "Jesus. Did that occur to you when you stabbed me? That you might be wrong?"

"But I wasn't wrong," Lex said.

Clark sighed and shook his head. He closed his eyes.

"Clark, look at me," Lex said.

"You don't want me to open my eyes," Clark said through his teeth.

"Why not?" Lex said.

"Because I'll set you on fire," Clark said.

"...You set things on fire by looking at them?" Lex said. "I would've thought it was just from your thinking about them."

Clark took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. "The world's a crazy place, isn't it."

"It really is," Lex agreed.

"So what do you want?" Clark said.

Lex shook his head. "Nothing, really."

"Oh, fuck you," Clark said.

"Well, I'd like to learn more about you," Lex said. "You're very interesting to me."

"I'm sure," Clark muttered.

"You must know that you'd be very interesting to any number of scientists," Lex said.

"Right, there's the threats again," Clark said.

"It's not really a threat so much as statement of fact," Lex said.

"Right, but that's the power you're supposed to hold over me, right?" Clark said. "I'm supposed to be afraid that you'll expose me to the world?"

"Are you afraid of that?" Lex asked.

Clark stared at the floor, then looked back up at Lex. "You know what, I don't even care anymore. Tell everyone; I'm tired of it."

"You sound frustrated," Lex said. "That's understandable. I believe you think you mean it when you say that. But think about it a little harder. You don't want people to know, not really. If it got out publicly, you'd never get any rest. Everyone would want a piece of you. And if there were just a select few who knew about you...I'm sure they'd never run out of tests to subject you to. You're ripe for experimentation."

"Yeah, I'm curious about some experiments myself," Clark said. "Like, how many bones in the human body could I break using just my index finger. Things like that."

"As I said," Lex nodded, "there are any number of experiments that could be done. Certainly, investigations into your strength. But I imagine these faceless few would be at least as curious about your weaknesses. How much can you withstand? What happens if you're starved? Jolted with high voltage? Exposed to extreme temperatures, or radiation? Isolated from all human contact? People would probably want to know these things."

"Yeah, well, you know," Clark said, "maybe I don't want people to know about me. But I don't think you do, either."

"How so?" Lex said.

"What would you possibly get out of that?" Clark said.

"Well, just off-hand, I know that I could make quite the shitload of money off you," Lex said.

"You already have a shitload of money," Clark said.

"But it's my nature to always want more," Lex said.

"You wouldn't do that," Clark said. "Because you'd get paid for turning me in, and then I'd be dried up as a source of income."

"You'd also win me a lot of influence in desirable places," Lex said. "And maybe I'd like to see what some other researchers could turn up on you."

"As soon as you told anybody about me," Clark said, "you'd lose all your power over me."

Lex nodded. "How much power do I have over you?"

"None," Clark said.

"Then I've got nothing to lose," he said.

Clark rubbed his forehead, then said, "Lex, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what," Lex said.

Clark stared at him. "Do you honestly not know? Christ, what's wrong with you?"

"I think we've veered a little off topic here," Lex said. "We were talking about you."

"What, then," Clark said. "What about me?"

"Well..." Lex said.

He went over to his desk and opened a drawer. He carried a piece of meteorite over near Clark. "These things bother you, right?" he asked.

Clark sat stiffly and set his jaw.

"That's the impression I've gotten," Lex said. "I was wondering if it was true."

After a moment of silence, Clark said, "Would you rather I vomited on you or on the floor? I ask because the carpet looks kind of expensive."

Lex looked down at the rock. "These make you nauseous?"

"Hence my question," Clark said.

"Huh," Lex said. He backed away from Clark a little.

He turned the meteorite over in his hand. "So you've got superhuman strength, and you're invulnerable...and, oh yes, you can set things on fire with your eyes...but these rocks make you sick." He looked to Clark for confirmation.

Clark didn't say anything.

"So I guess this means I've found your weakness," Lex said. "Aside from the obvious, like your connection to your parents and your friends. Lana."

"Don't talk about them," Clark said, breathing heavily.

"Oh, I won't," Lex said. "I don't need to; I already know how much they mean to you."

Clark winced and gasped a little.

Lex looked at him closely. "Clark, are you having trouble breathing?"

Clark gritted his teeth and didn't say anything.

"Feels like something's clenched around your windpipe?" Lex asked. "Your chest is tight?"

Clark gasped loudly.

"Clark, it's okay; you're just upset," Lex said. "Don't whoop air in like that, it makes it worse."

Clark leaned over, holding his knees, wheezing.

"C'mon, Clark, in through the nose and out through the mouth," Lex said. "Sit up straight so your trachea doesn't have to work so hard. Deep, even breaths."

Clark sat up and slowly started breathing normally.

"There you go," Lex said. "I know, it's kind of scary. But you're fine."

Clark glared at him.

"Do you start to adjust to the presence of the meteorite when I leave it out like this?" Lex said.

Clark didn't say anything.

"Because you haven't thrown up, but you still look pretty sick," Lex said. "Weak."

Clark shuddered.

"What happens if the meteorite touches you?" Lex asked.

"I don't know," Clark muttered.

"Should we find out?" Lex asked. He picked the rock up off the desk.

"Don't," Clark said. "It burns."

"Okay," Lex said. He waited a moment, then asked, "Have you noticed that I've been standing up the whole time you've been sitting down? Giving me a height advantage over you?"

"Yeah, I noticed that," Clark said. "It didn't bother me too much, seeing as how I could crush your skull."

"Yeah, it's always nice to have an ace in the hole like that," Lex said. "Still, you wouldn't be able to crush much of anything right now, right?"

"Should we find out?" Clark said.

Lex smiled.

He stepped in front of Clark, still holding the meteorite. Clark flinched a little. Lex got down on his knees. Clark looked down at him, his brow furrowed. Lex laid the meteorite on the floor and gently touched Clark's knees.

"You probably think I have no idea what I'm putting you through, hm?" Lex said.

"It doesn't matter," Clark said. "It's worse if you do know."

"That's a good point," Lex said. "I do know about it. But because of that...I know it's not really so bad. You can get through this."

"Get through what," Clark said.

Lex sat back on his heels, looking up at Clark. "When I was in boarding school in England...about your age...no, a little younger, actually...my friends and I went out carousing. We met some..." Lex smiled. "They'd probably call themselves 'blokes.' Grown men, who enjoyed seeing the preps get themselves in trouble. They helped me get spectacularly drunk. And after I was done throwing up, I was still really...out of it. Confused, kind of dizzy. Still feeling sick. And I just sat on the bed, feeling like I couldn't move. And the guys took turns putting cigarettes out on me."

Clark curled his lip as he looked down at Lex.

"Yeah, I know; it's not a very nice thing to do, is it?" Lex said. He shrugged. "But I still got off on it."

"That's because you're fucking sick," Clark said.

"Yeah, you've got me there," Lex said. He nodded to Clark's crotch and lightly ran his fingers over the fly. "What's your excuse?"

Clark shoved Lex weakly. "Don't touch me."

Lex nodded. "Okay."

"I mean it," Clark said. "Leave me alone."

"Okay," Lex said.

He got up and carried the meteorite back to his desk.

Clark stared at him from his seat. "Leave me the fuck alone."

"Sure," Lex said.

He waited for Clark to go.

The end