SV - Fiction - To Fly A Mile In Another Man's Boots, Clark/Lex, R
The story I've been writing on and off since last October, and formerly known as Superhero!Lex, is complete! And much revised and added to, from the original posts. I took the plot from the Lois&Clark episode, Ultrawoman, and re-fit it to Clark and Lex. Thanks to bop_radar and svmaria for betaing/editing/proof reading, to roxymissrose for being so particularly enthusiastic and to everyone-else who has provided advice and encouragement along the way.
Dedicated to astrea9562, on her birthday.
Title: To Fly A Mile In Another Man’s Boots
Author: laurab1
Length: approx. 9900 words
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Rating: R/15
Category: denialfic, complete AU
Spoilers: Up to S5 of Smallville, various Superman comics and the Lois&Clark episode, Ultrawoman
Warning: very mild kink/toys
Summary: What do you do when you end up with Superman's powers?
Disclaimer: None of these people, other than the original characters, are mine.
Feedback is loved and appreciated :) Hope you enjoy!
To Fly A Mile In Another Man’s Boots
by Laura
Metropolis, 2015
Prologue
When it happened, Lex had been in the middle of a desperate attempt to protect Clark from Metropolis’s latest freak. The woman had recently been the subject of a Daily Planet exposé and was now armed with a weapon powered by green and red Kryptonite, gleefully informing them of this fact. God knew what effect that combination would have on Clark. Only half thinking, Lex had stood in front of Clark, and the weapon had been fired. The energy had switched and surged between them, and Lex had taken most of the force of the blast. They had both been knocked out, thus giving the woman a chance to escape.
They’d swiftly regained consciousness, and the first thing Lex had said was, ”Clark, you’re bleeding.” He’d continued, “Also, I can hear what I presume is your heart hammering away. Something’s wrong...”
Lex had been desperately trying not to panic.
“Lex, we know exactly what’s wrong,” Clark had replied, working it out straight away and sounding only a little calmer than Lex. “Thanks to that Kryptonite-powered laser gun, you’ve got my powers. I can’t hear Metropolis and the rest of the world screaming away at me.”
“Oh, hell,” Lex had muttered, now deciding to panic.
***
Lex did indeed have Clark’s powers. Every single one of them; strength, speed, vision, invulnerability (well, enhancing what he already had), hearing, breath, flight.
Hours later, when he’d stopped freaking out and had time to start processing everything, Lex had seen possibilities. With Superman (surely only temporarily) gone, who’d protect Metropolis?
Cover
1 - Masks
The following evening, they were sat at the dinner table, and Clark could hear Lex thinking, his husband was being so obvious. He took a deep breath before speaking. “Lex, no. You’re not patrolling. You’re not asking my mom to make you a Warrior Angel uniform.”
He didn’t say, you don’t know even how to use my powers yet.
“Why, Clark? Superman’s incapacitated. Who’s looking after the city?”
“People will freak out!" Even more than they sometimes did at Superman. Clark chose to sort of ignore the second question for the time being. The police were looking after the city. Metropolis would just have to get by without Superman for a while. It had done so for over one hundred years. But there were always the ones that the police couldn’t get to...
“I’d be wearing a mask, Clark,” Lex purred, pulling Clark out of his introspection. “It’s part of his uniform. We know how interesting masks are. Do you remember that particular adventure in bed?”
God, yes. Clark most certainly did. A beautiful black leather item, lined with a fine lead wire mesh... Masks were indeed interesting. And fun. And so very, very hot and sexy. He had a thought. There was no way Lex was patrolling, it wasn’t worth risking. Maybe there were other uses for the uniform. Or uniforms, to be more precise.
“Well, my Mom did make the Superman uniforms. We could ask her to make us Warrior Angel and Devilicus costumes. And suggest that she doesn’t ask questions.” There would be an awful lot of squirming if there were questions.
“Your mother is a Metropolis girl, Clark. She’s aware of our relationship. She wouldn’t need to even think about asking questions,” Lex said, like it was nothing.
“Lex!” Clark was almost completely scandalised.
“What? You suggested it, Clark. And it’s true. We should be grateful,” Lex said.
Just how had they got to this point? Clark was confused. Distracting, confusing Lex! Curse him and his powers of being sexy!
Well, they probably needed to leave for Smallville. The sooner his mom made the costumes, the sooner they could play fun games in bed.
“C’mon, Lex. It’s getting dark, we can risk two flights. And we could ask Mom to make sure both costumes fit both me and you.” Clark could just see Lex in Devilicus’s bright red suit.
Lex was equally eager to see Clark in Warrior Angel’s purple one. “I like the way you think, Clark. Let me grab our coats and my reading copy of the latest Warrior Angel. Then you have to remind me just how you manage to fly. Of all your powers, that one never ceases to amaze me,” Lex said, going to their bedroom.
He soon returned, carrying their long coats. “Pick me up like I pick you up. You’ll need to launch us off the balcony...” Clark said, as he accepted his coat and put it on.
While Clark continued the explanation, Lex ensured the comic was safely stowed in his own coat pocket. They went out onto the balcony, locking the doors behind them. Lex stood on the balcony, with Clark in his arms and butterflies in his stomach. He crouched and stretched, and mastered the power of flight almost immediately.
“That was great, Lex!” Clark said.
“Yes, Clark,” Lex agreed, laughing a little nervously.
Then they were in the air, and off to Smallville.
***
A few minutes later, Clark and Lex landed in front of the Kent farmhouse, and walked inside. Martha Kent was in the kitchen, clearing up after dinner. “Boys!” She was happy to see them, and hugged them in greeting.
When Lex was released, he looked at Clark for encouragement, took a deep breath and made the request. “Martha, we need you to make a couple of items for us...”
2 - Wings
Martha had blushed (but only a little!) at what was, basically, a request from her son-in-law for her to make some fetish wear. And she wasn’t going to admit just how she knew that phrase. Well, OK, she’d been to Europe when she was eighteen, the summer before she’d started college. There were some really bohemian parts of London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Lex and Clark could have had the costumes made by Lex’s tailor or a specialist, but they’d chosen to bring the job to her. Martha vowed to make two amazing costumes. She poked, prodded, measured and made notes. Lex said he would organise the materials and get them sent to her. She then hugged and kissed them goodbye.
***
Seconds later, Lex and Clark were in the air. “We didn’t tell Mom that you had my powers, Lex,“ Clark said.
“I thought that could wait, Clark,“ Lex replied. Just how long was another matter. “We’ve only just begun to deal with the situation ourselves.”
“We need to tell my parents at some point, Lex. They’ll figure out something’s wrong when Superman’s not on the news rescuing people from a mudslide, and the rest of the League is,” Clark said.
“I know, Clark. I know,” Lex sighed. Clark had a point. “Please just let me fly us home, now.”
Those words coming from Lex’s mouth said it all. The thrill and adrenaline from earlier had unfortunately gone now, and Lex just concentrated on getting them home.
***
The next day was a Saturday, giving Lex time to go shopping for fabric. He paid a visit to a costumier, one he’d frequented every weekend, back when he was eighteen, and a rebellious club kid. He visited the store about once a month, now. Everybody who was anybody went to Allure. The owner was an eccentric Frenchwoman, Mme Adèle Gaultier, and there were many beautiful items among her stock.
“Alexandre! Bonjour!” Adèle said, when Lex entered her store.
“Bonjour, Adèle. Comment allez-vous?” Lex replied.
“Très bien, merci. How can I help you today, Alexandre?” Adèle asked.
“Adèle, I’d like six yards each of purple and red spandex, matching leather half-masks and size eleven purple leather boots,” he said.
“Très bien, Alexandre. Look around, while I cut the fabric,” Adèle said.
Lex examined the latest arrivals, while he waited for Adèle. His eyes eventually landed on a mannequin wearing a pair of angel wings. “Adèle, les ailes sont très belles. Je les voudrais aussi, s’il vous plaît," he said.
“Oui, Alexandre,” Adèle said. “I will find your other things, maintenant.”
***
Having tried on the boots, Lex paid for his purchases and asked Adèle to have the fabric delivered to Smallville. The masks, boots and wings went in the limo, and back to the penthouse with Lex. He and Clark would be playing with the wings tonight. The rest of the uniforms could wait.
***
From the office, Clark heard Lex arrive back at the penthouse, and soon had him in his arms. They kissed in greeting.
“Lex! What did you buy?” Clark said, when he saw the box and bags on the sofa. Allure, the name of the infamous Metropolis costume store, was printed on them, in large, flowing script.
“Open the box and see, Clark.” Lex’s purring had returned.
Uh oh. Clark could feel himself blushing. He carefully removed the lid, and saw the wings. Rather than any sort of angel, he was reminded of subverting convention and half naked male ballet dancers. There was a sudden lack of blood in the upper half of his body.
“Lex, these are gorgeous! They’ll go just right with the rest of the costume!” Clark exclaimed. The wings were indeed gorgeous; four feet long and two feet wide, white and made with real turkey feathers.
“I thought so, too, Clark. The second time I saw you, you were hovering over me, all wet and beautiful and I was sure you were an angel. So, I couldn’t wait to see the wings on you; just them, nothing else.”
Again with the sexy voice! “Bedroom,” Clark almost growled, gathering up the wings, “now, Lex.”
Lex supersped them there.
In the bedroom, there was kissing, stripping off of clothes and more kissing. Then they actually remembered the wings. Clark got off the bed and slid the straps onto his shoulders. Looking at his reflection in the full length mirror, Clark gasped. Turning back to Lex, he waited for his reaction.
Clark wearing just the wings
“You look like a naked angel, Clark. Beautiful,” Lex breathed.
“I thought angels were smooth, Lex. Kind of not, y’know?” Clark said.
“Well,” Lex said, casting a pointed look at the object of Clark’s words, “you must be a fallen angel, then. Cast out of Heaven on the pretext of being corrupt, but really they were all just jealous of how big you are. There, particularly.” There was a smirk to round off Lex’s words.
“And I suppose you actually corrupted me?” Clark asked.
“I most definitely did, Clark. But not completely, though. C’mere, Lucifer,” Lex said, smiling.
Clark went. And then there was even more kissing. And a lot of moaning and screaming. Just as they’d predicted, Clark wearing Lex’s Warrior Angel wings had led to the first of many interesting bedroom adventures with those particular items. They slept like spoons, Clark behind Lex, wrapping them both in the beautiful wings.
It was only later that they noticed the wings and the bed had a few scorch marks on them. That power worked the same way in another body, then.
Clark and Lex wrapped in the wings
3 - Responsibility
The following Tuesday, while working at home, the reality of the situation actually hit Lex.
Clark was at the Daily Planet writing story after story about his own disappearance. They didn’t have their usual "burden". Lex wasn’t comforting Clark when he came home physically and emotionally exhausted, often bearing tales of how he’d been mere seconds too late to save someone but in time to hear their last scream, though. In those situations, Lex would take Clark’s face in his hands. He’d force Clark to look at him and remind him for the millionth time that he just couldn’t save everybody, and he’d drive himself mad if he tried to do so. “I have to try, Lex,” Clark would reply. From his tone of voice, Lex would know there was no convincing him otherwise, and would once again resign himself to sharing Clark with the world for the rest of their lives.
With Lex’s advanced healing and Clark’s solar powered body, they both knew that could well be a very, very long time.
Now Lex could hear all those final screams, along with all the other noises of Metropolis. He was experiencing exactly how Clark felt after a draining patrol. And like Clark, he had to do something. This was his city. He had to protect its citizens.
Yes, he’d felt an undeniable excitement in actually being Warrior Angel, but like Clark had said, that could cause panic and confusion. However, there was no reason he couldn’t appear as someone-else...
UltraMan? With a shield? Yes, that would work.
Also, it saved Clark, Lois and the rest of the press the trouble of coming up with what would probably be a stupid name for him.
Lex quickly sketched out a design. He then went to Clark’s uniform closet, and retrieved just a shirt, no tights or cape. Rolling them up and placing them in a pocket of his long black coat, he quickly flew off to Smallville. Martha Kent was getting more work.
***
When she saw Lex land in front of the farmhouse, looking like something from The Matrix, one of Clark’s favorite movies, Martha was very confused. When had this happened? Did Clark still have his powers? Had Lex flown himself and Clark to Smallville a few days ago? Lex opened the front door and walked inside. “I saw you land, Lex,“ she immediately told him. “What’s going on?”
Oh, hell. Crunch time. Lex explained it all, starting with the Kryptonite fuelled gun. “I need a uniform, Martha. I have to help. I have to try and stop some of the screaming. It’s giving me a headache.” Finishing his explanation, Lex felt drained.
Martha could see Lex was only just holding it together. She and Jonathan had failed both him and Clark once, in a similar situation. She would not do that again. Clark had come into his powers one by one. He’d mastered each one and had time to get used to it, before the next power came along, and the cycle started all over again. Lex had received all of them at once. It was no wonder he was so upset. “What did you have in mind, sweetheart?” she asked.
Lex got out the shirt and the drawing. “I’d like you to remove the ‘S’ shield and replace it with a ‘U’ shield. I’ll need something to cover my head as well. I’m calling myself UltraMan. I have boots back at the penthouse.”
“I think I can manage this, Lex,“ Martha said, looking at the sketch. “I’ll do this one first, of course. Does Clark know about this?” she asked.
“No, he doesn’t. I hope his reaction is positive. His teenage temper still makes the occasional appearance. We still argue and disagree, but nowhere near as often or violently as we once did. Thank God we managed to see past all the misunderstandings and he finally trusted me with all his secrets...”
Lex’s thoughts trailed off. Surely Martha could see how bad he felt? Could he tell her his other thoughts and feelings?
“Do you want to ask me something else, Lex?” she said.
“Just...how does Clark stay sane, Martha? If he was anyone else, I’d take him to a shrink. But he’s Superman, and thanks to my Belle Reve experience, I don’t trust shrinks, so I can’t,” Lex admitted.
“You know how, Lex. He has his family and friends; you, me, Jonathan, Chloe, Perry, Lois, Jimmy. He’s one of the world’s protectors. He can’t afford to be insane, so he also has two identities, so Superman isn’t always working,“ Martha said. “Are you ready to have two identities, Lex?”
Lex had a vague feeling of déja vu; had something like this happened before? The sheer irony of splitting oneself in two to stay sane still made him laugh, and it had been his plan, in the first place. He was certainly prepared to try. There were a lot of people counting on him. “I am, Martha. I am,” he said confidently.
Martha smiled. “Good. Now go back to Metropolis, talk to Clark and show him the sketch. Order the fabric tomorrow, get the sketch back to me, and I’ll have the uniform done as soon as I can. Don’t drive yourself mad in the meantime.”
God, he loved this woman. “Thank you so much, Martha. Goodbye.”
Leaving the uniform with Martha and pocketing the drawing, Lex exited the house and launched himself into the air. He had a lot to think about.
4 - Genesis
A few minutes later, Lex was back in Metropolis. He landed near the penthouse building and walked the rest of the way. The security guards greeted him as he entered the building. He took the private elevator up to the top floor and the penthouse.
Clark was already home when he got there. What would his reaction to Lex’s plan be? Having kissed him, Lex bit the bullet. “Clark, I’m patrolling. I need to. I have to. I’m calling myself UltraMan and Martha’s making me a uniform.”
“OK, Lex,” Clark replied.
”’OK, Lex’? Is that all? No ‘no way’?” Lex couldn’t believe that was the sum total of his reaction.
“I thought about it, and realised that I’d been stupid to even try and stop you. You don’t stop me, even though you might like to, sometimes. I was just a little uptight about having lost my powers,” Clark admitted.
OK, that was a positive reaction. Lex smiled. “Clark, would you like to see my uniform design?”
“I’d love to, Lex,” Clark said, smiling back at him.
***
“You’ll look amazing, Lex. Metropolis won’t know what hit it,” Clark said, clearly impressed.
Lex smiled, and said, “Thank you. Good to know my instincts were right. One more thing, though, Clark.”
“What’s that, Lex?” Clark asked.
“I’m terrified about this,” Lex reluctantly admitted.
“I’ll treat you just like you treat me after an exhausting patrol, Lex,” Clark assured him.
Oh, comfort cuddling and kissing, which Lex normally took charge of. He suddenly wasn’t quite so terrified. “I look forward to that, Clark,” Lex replied happily.
Clark said, “I thought you might. Shall we get some practice in?”
“God, yes,” Lex said, leering at Clark.
Clark then said, ”And tomorrow, I’m teaching you how to use the rest of my powers, if you’re going to do this.”
“OK, Clark,” Lex replied.
Lex used his superspeed to get them to the bedroom, naked and into bed, so they could conduct their practice. And very pleasurable practice it was, too.
5 - Training
The next morning, Lex informed his PA he would be working at home. Then he went to Allure, bought the fabric for UltraMan’s uniform and flew it and the drawing to Smallville.
Clark told Perry and Lois he would be working from home as well. Really, they’d both be training Lex how to use the rest of the powers.
Lex had already mastered flight and superspeed. By the end of the day, he had also fired bullets at his own body with no ill effect and lifted the dining table with one hand. He’d looked through solid objects and lit candles with his own eyes. He’d trained his hearing to pick up noises from a long way away. He’d also frozen a bottle of vodka with his breath.
“Lex, you were great! You understood all the powers!” Clark exclaimed.
“I had a excellent teacher, Clark. I think I’m ready to be UltraMan, now,” Lex said.
Clark was impressed with Lex. He could do this. He could be a superhero.
That didn’t prevent Clark from being scared stiff for him. This must have been how Lex had felt during Clark’s early days as Superman.
***
On Thursday, they went back to work. Martha called Lex on his cell at 1pm, to say the uniform was done. Lex told her he’d fly in to pick it up that night.
So, after their evening meal, Lex went to Smallville. He arrived back at the penthouse just fifteen minutes later.
“Lex! Can I see?” Clark breezily asked.
”No, Clark. Wait until tomorrow night,” Lex informed him, with a smirk.
“Spoilsport,” Clark retorted, pouting.
“Are you sure you’re nearly thirty, Clark?” Lex said. Clark just stuck his tongue out at Lex, proving his point for him.
6 - Debut
The next night, Lex stood in the penthouse’s lounge, being circled by Clark. He wore the re-styled blue shirt, a pair of Clark’s blue tights, a cowl that covered his bare head and blue leather boots.
Lex as UltraMan
“Mom really did a good job. The uniform looks great, Lex. Shows off all your best assets,” Clark said, leering at him.
“It’s not meant to do that, Clark. But yours does exactly the same thing,” Lex leered back.
“Yeah, I know. Mom says it being that tight cuts down on wind resistance,” Clark said.
“I’m sure that’s her excuse, Clark,” Lex smirked, and watched Clark’s eyes go wide. He then sobered. It was 9pm and tonight would be UltraMan’s debut. Lex was a little nervous about just what he’d encounter.
“C’mon, Lex, time for UltraMan to go save Metropolis,” Clark said, bringing him out of his thoughts. “Be back by midnight, though. Otherwise, your uniform will turn back into a suit and tie.”
Clark’s joke, as bad as it was, cheered Lex up considerably. “OK, Clark, I’ll see you later. God knows what sort of state I’ll be in, though,” he said, before pulling Clark close to kiss him goodbye.
When they separated, Lex walked over to the balcony doors and slid them open. On the balcony, he crouched and stretched, launching UltraMan into the night sky and off on his first patrol.
Lex pretended he didn’t hear Clark burying his head in his hands and crying.
***
Nearly three hours later, UltraMan’s debut night was coming to an end. He had rescued two cats from a tree. They belonged to a young girl and boy, who had both beamed up at him in gratitude. Lex had smiled back, informing them he was a friend. Using his Navy Seal training, he’d saved four people from muggers, and two teenage girls from being raped. All the criminals had been delivered to the police; everyone who'd had a crime perpetrated against them had been encouraged to press charges.
Still, the city seemed to be as lawless and noisy as it had been at 9pm. UltraMan had stopped a few muggings, saved a couple of girls. Had he actually made any difference?
Lex was exhausted. He needed the comfort of home. He needed his husband. He began to fly back to the penthouse, back to Clark. How the hell did Clark do this, night after night after night?
***
It was around midnight and Clark was nearly asleep when he heard a sound on the balcony, signalling Lex’s return. He got up from the sofa and walked towards the balcony doors. Lex slid open the doors and entered the penthouse. He was carrying the cowl; he’d already taken it off.
One look in Lex’s eyes told Clark what he had to do. He took the cowl from Lex’s hand and placed it on a table. Then he took Lex in his arms and let him cry, for as long as he needed to.
***
When Lex had calmed, Clark sat them down on the sofa and started to ask him about the patrol. “How did it go, Lex? What happened? Who did UltraMan save?” Or not save, as the case may be.
Lex told him about the cats, the kids, the mugging victims, the teenage girls and all the criminals. “That was hard work, Clark. How the hell do you do this, nearly all the time?” he asked.
Clark had to think for a bit before answering. “With difficulty, Lex. Even though there’s the rest of the League, it’s never easy. There’s always another natural disaster. People always want to hurt other people. I didn’t understand why fifteen years ago, when my powers started manifesting themselves. I still don’t understand why. There’s a joy in saving someone, though.”
***
Lex thought about Clark’s words. Yes, saving people had been good. It had made him happy. People were alive and safe because of him. “Saving someone is great, Clark,” Lex agreed. Clark smiled at him and his mood brightened.
“C’mon, Clark,” Lex said, standing up and pulling Clark up off the sofa by his hand. “Bedtime. I want to make out with my husband.”
“Just make out? Is that all?” Clark said.
“I’m too tired to do anything else. We can make love in the morning,” Lex replied.
“Good plan, Lex. Good plan,” Clark said. They went to bed and just made out for ten minutes, before falling blissfully asleep.
7 - Savior
And so they continued on in their new roles, Lex’s confidence as a superhero increasing all the time. A few days after UltraMan’s debut, Bruce Wayne called the penthouse’s very secret, very secure and very heavily encrypted telephone line:
”Clark, when you get your powers back from Lex, please come and see me.”
“Yes, sir,” Clark replied. “Bye, Bruce.”
Typical Bruce. Clark could kill him, sometimes. Just how had he worked it out? And when had he worked it out? Oh, Clark knew how. Out of all of them, Bruce had the best mind and the best moves. Those were his superpowers. Well, and his money.
(Lex had the best toys, though.)
All of which meant that ‘when’ was probably the Sunday morning after UltraMan’s debut. After pulling an all-nighter to go over Friday and Saturday's information at least a dozen times. Not that he was obsessive, or anything. “I'd better tell Lex that Bruce knows. That’ll be so much fun,” Clark said to himself.
Clark had found that with the loss of his powers, he was becoming tired far more easily. This meant that he was already in bed when Lex eventually returned, and climbed in beside him. At 2am. Clark decided the conversation could wait until morning. He pulled Lex close, and went back to sleep.
***
“Lex, Bruce knows. He called the penthouse last night,” Clark blurted, in the morning.
He didn’t say, he’d worked it out practically immediately.
“Does he now? Of course he does. Well, UltraMan will just have to fly a little lower, then, so the Wayne-Swann satellites can’t pick him up anymore,” Lex stated, with only a hint of menace.
Clark gulped.
***
1pm on Wednesday, the Daily Planet received a call to say it would be set on fire unless Superman appeared. Such calls were fairly commonplace, unfortunately. This did, however, mean that everyone knew the drill. Jimmy sounded the alarm, while Perry, Lois and Chloe made sure everyone got out safely.
Meanwhile, Clark changed into Superman, and then left the building himself. Yes, he was still wearing part of his uniform under his clothes, and no, he couldn’t explain why. Well, OK, it was on the offchance that he suddenly regained his powers. And he loved the feel of the fabric against his skin.
Lex had been such a bad influence on him.
Clark just had about had time to notice the already prepared line of flammable liquid leading to the Daily Planet. He’d done as requested, and was about to ask for something to neutralize the liquid. Then some crazy person the set the line on fire, anyway.
“Lex! Hurry up and get over here! The Daily Planet’s going to catch fire and I can’t put the flames out!” Clark quietly exclaimed. He was trying not to panic, he really was.
A second later, there was a blast of ice cold air, the flames were extinguished, and UltraMan flew into view. Clark breathed an extremely heavy sigh of relief. Lex landed like he’d been flying for years, not nearly two weeks.
***
UltraMan and Superman
Jimmy had taken a picture of the two of them, which would doubtlessly be on the Daily Planet’s website in hours, and on the front page of tomorrow’s first printed edition. Now, Perry and Lois were walking towards them. Lex was convinced that Perry White (who he had once upon a time run out of Smallville), editor-in-chief of the great metropolitan newspaper, that UltraMan had by some apparent miracle not appeared in, was going to address him as ‘Son’, so the ‘Sir’ came as a surprise.
“Sir! Thank you, you saved our building. Who are you? What’s your name? Where did you come from?”
Being bombarded with questions, however, was no surprise whatsoever.
“My name is UltraMan. I’m a friend of Superman’s,” Lex calmly replied, keeping his cool.
“Indeed he is, Mr White,” Clark said in the deeper (and so much more sexy) voice he used as Superman.
And Lois Lane just had to have the last word. “Superman, his uniform is so much hotter than yours,” she remarked, running her eyes up and down Lex.
Lois was another person Clark occasionally wanted to kill. It was just as well she was an excellent reporter, and a close friend of both Clark and Superman.
And that was UltraMan’s daylight debut.
8 - Weapon
When they all got back inside and Clark was back in his Clark persona, he thought about what had happened. Clearly, someone had wanted to draw Superman out of “hiding”. Who, though? He got Jimmy to trace the call. It had been made from a warehouse, on a land line. There were no names, though, nothing at all which would indicate who owned the warehouse. A more thorough investigation appeared to be in order.
Clark searched all the city records using the methods Chloe had taught him (only some of which he thought were legal.) He searched using the methods Lex had taught him (none of which he knew were legal). Still nothing. Whoever owned the place was hidden behind God knows how many fronts and dummy companies. An even more thorough investigation was definitely in order.
“Lois!” Clark called, across the newsroom.
“What’s up, Smallville?” she replied, walking over to him.
“Black ops mission, tonight,” Clark said.
“Oh, yes,” Lois purred, looking him straight in the eyes. “Bring it on, Clark.”
God, they were a strange bunch: himself, Lois, Chloe and Jimmy. Black ops usually entailed breaking and entering, or distracting a receptionist or security guard while Clark speed read some files, and they got such a buzz from it.
Clark felt a little flustered at the intensity of Lois’s regard, but he explained the task at hand. “Take Chloe and Jimmy, break into the warehouse we were checking out earlier, and see what you can find there. See if you can work out who owns the place.”
“Aren’t you coming, Clark?” Lois asked.
“No, Lois. Lex and I doing something special, tonight,” he lied. Well, he could hardly say, ‘My husband’s doing my second job for me and I have to do his for him,’ could he?
As Lois walked back to her desk, Clark remembered his early encounters with her...
***
After completing his journalism degree, Clark had gone travelling around the world. He’d wanted to “find himself”, and he and Lex had got by on emails and phone calls for nearly three years. The longest three years of their lives. Clark had spent that time exploring and learning. And sometimes, writing, earning himself a good reputation.
And then there were the rescues. But they were less successful, and in more remote areas, he’d often ended up frightening the people he was trying to help. Perhaps a disguise could be useful, something he’d communicated to Lex after some of the bad rescues.
He’d returned to Metropolis to find Chloe’s byline finally on the Daily Planet’s front page, with the news that she and Lois would be on the maiden flight of LexAir’s experimental passenger travel space plane.
He’d also discovered that Lex had been planning over the three years they’d been apart, and had found a uniform ready and waiting for him, with a version of the symbol of his Kryptonian house as the insignia. Little had he known that he’d be forced into donning the uniform and going into action that day, as the plane had malfunctioned and he’d had to leap into the air to ensure it landed safely.
He’d been mobbed. And absolutely terrified at being surrounded by so many people, and that much noise. He couldn’t possibly live that like all the time, so he, his parents, Chloe and Lex had created “Clark Kent”.
He’d written the story of the rescue, and sent it to the newswires. On Chloe’s suggestion, he’d referred to Metropolis’s new costumed hero as, “Superman”.
Perry White had picked up the story and hired him, and he’d met Jimmy Olsen, genius photographer and budding reporter, and Chloe’s cousin, and occasional writing partner, the Daily Planet’s other star reporter, Lois Lane.
She was tall, with long, dark hair and amazing legs. In other words, the most gorgeous woman he’d seen in years. Clark had felt a little guilty for thinking that, and had apologised to Lex in his head.
Clark had later discovered that like Chloe, Lois possessed a soft centre hidden behind a hard shell, which could be both annoying and endearing.
***
That night, while sitting around waiting for Lex, Clark had a call from Chloe.
“Clark, we found a couple of things. A Kryptonite-powered laser gun and a name. The gun looks like it’s broken, and we’re taking it with us, by the way. The warehouse belongs to Dr Penelope Blacksmith.”
Broken? Well, there was a considerable amount of energy switching and surging that day. His powers must have shorted the gun. “We just did a story on her, Chloe. She really hates me. She’s the one that fired that gun at me and Lex,” Clark said.
“She hates all of us, Clark,”Chloe said, “and it looks like she worked out the secret identity thing, as well. I managed to drag Lois away from some of the stuff, but you’re going to have to tell her. It’s not right that she still doesn’t know. She’s one of your best friends. You love her. In another life, you’d probably be with her, if you weren’t married to Lex. Who got your powers from the blast--he’s currently out saving the world in your stead, isn’t he?”
Oh, God. Damn Chloe’s lightning fast brain! “Yes,” Clark sighed, “yes to everything, Chloe. You three get out of there, get home. I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight.” He hung up.
Then there was a thump on the balcony. Early, tonight. That was odd. Lex came in, and Clark waited on the sofa until he had changed out of his uniform before he gave his husband all the news.
“Hell, Clark,” Lex replied, sitting down and pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Precisely,” Clark said.
“Call Chloe back. Get her to bring the weapon here, on her own. We need to get LexLabs going on it in the morning, get it working again. I don’t know if either of us will be vulnerable to the Kryptonite, so I’ll find the lead-lined storage box, just in case,” Lex said, managing to be all business.
They needed somewhere to store the Kryptonite.
That they sometimes played with.
In bed.
Lex got the box while Clark made the call. Why was he so adamant about having the gun so soon? Clark then asked, “Lex? Why did you come back so much earlier, tonight? It’s only midnight, and you’ve been getting in about 2am usually.”
And Lex’s face fell. “Clark, I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
Something really bad must have happened for Lex to just say that.
“What happened, Lex?” Clark softly asked.
“A narrowly averted plane crash, swiftly followed by a train de-railing. I safely landed the plane at JFK, but was unable to get to the train quickly enough and people died. Why wasn’t I quick enough, Clark? What did I do wrong?”
He could see Lex was trying not to cry, so Clark pulled him close and said, “Lex, you did nothing wrong. Sometimes, even I’m not fast enough. Yes, it hurts. You know it hurts, you’ve comforted me like this God knows how many times. Focus on the lives you did save.”
Then the internal phone rang. Clark picked it up and the head doorman informed him of Chloe’s arrival. Chloe was soon at the penthouse door, accompanied by one of the doormen. She held the gun, which just made Clark feel a little weak. And a little aroused. Oh.
Lex noticed Clark’s reaction, the slight fire in his eyes, picked up the already open brick-sized box, and said to Chloe, “Drop that in here immediately.” She did so, and he closed the lid. Lex placed the box on a table.
“Is there anything else we need to know, Chloe?” Clark asked, feeling better.
“No, Clark, there’s nothing else. I left Jimmy and Lois downstairs. Can I go, now?” Chloe said.
“Yes, you can go. Thanks for bringing it. Goodnight,” Clark answered.
“’Night, guys,” she replied, and left with a smile.
Lex looked even worse, now the gun was in their home. Clark took him by the hand and said, “Let’s go to bed, Lex. You can’t do anything with it now. Take it to LexLabs in the morning, like you said.”
LexLabs would undoubtedly be able to get the broken weapon working again. Clark knew that they’d need to brave being blasted with it again to return his powers back to him. It could be painful. But that was what they needed to do. Clark missed being Superman, he missed the sun charging him up and he hated being so tired. And he had rarely seen Lex so broken as he had been earlier.
He needed to tell Lex how he felt. The status quo needed to be returned. They went to bed, and just went to sleep. Neither of them had the energy for anything else.
9 - Resolve
In the morning, over breakfast, Clark decided to take the bull by the horns and just go for it.
“Lex, I miss being Superman. I miss the sun charging me up, I miss my powers. Last night, you were so broken, so upset, Lex. It scared me. And other than your first night as UltraMan, the last time I was that scared, you were...”
Clark couldn’t say the rest, so was thankful that Lex asked, “Singing to a rolled up blanket?”
“Yes, Lex,” Clark admitted softly.
Lex said, “I remember you being so frightened after your first time in the suit, and so many other times. But we put you back together, and you became more confident as Superman. Yes, you need your powers back. You need to glow again. You are so much better at this than I am... So discouraged after so little time, what’s that all about? And why couldn’t we articulate all of this last night, Clark?”
“You've been doing a great job, Lex! As for the other thing, we were just too tired, physically and emotionally,” Clark said.
Apparently getting his thoughts back on track, Lex continued, “And I need to be able to do a decent day’s work at LexCorp. Just how do you sneak away when you’re needed elsewhere? So, I’ll take the gun to Diego’s lab. He and his team will get it working again. We need to think who we’ll ask to fire it at us. Then, when we’re both back to normal, I’ll sue this woman for every cent she has.”
God, Lex was so hot when he was on a roll. Clark had to take a deep breath to steady himself.
Then he processed some of Lex’s words. Dr Diego Martinez ran the very covert kryptonite ballistics and armory lab, maintained in case Clark was subjected to magic or mind control, and went rogue. He was the most powerful being on Earth and somehow, he’d have to be taken down. Just who would fire that shot was something Clark refused to think about.
Lex had also mentioned suing Dr Blacksmith. Why did he want to do that? Loads of people hated the Daily Planet. She was just one out of many. “Lex? Why do you want to sue her?” Clark asked.
“Money, Clark,” Lex said. “Her antics have made a big dent in LexCorp’s stock price. Metropolis loves you. The citizens should have confidence in Maggie, Dan and the rest of the police to keep them safe. That’s their job. They shouldn’t need you as well. None of you should be needed, for that matter. But you all make your cities’ people feel safer. And Superman not being out there has made the people jittery. And that’s made investors jittery, which affected the stock price.”
“In less than two weeks?” Clark asked.
“It can happen in a day, Clark. All it takes is one person making a string of bad choices and a company’s stock price can collapse,” Lex said.
“OK, OK! Spare me the lecture!” Clark said, cutting Lex off before he launched into some huge spiel. “I keep you from going bust, do I?” he asked.
“You keep me from so much more than that, Clark,” Lex said, gathering up the plates and getting up from the table. “C’mon, we need to get off to work.” He called for a car to be brought round and fetched the box containing the gun, while Clark washed the plates and left them to drain.
***
The car dropped Clark at the Daily Planet. He kissed Lex goodbye, saying, ”Have fun playing M to Dr Martinez’s Q.”
“Oh, I shall, Clark,” Lex said. “I can’t wait to see Diego’s face when I confront him with the gun. There’ll be a considerable amount of swearing, most probably. Mainly out of jealousy, and regret that he didn’t think of the combination first.”
Despite the subject matter of Lex’s words, Clark smiled. Lex had a plan, now. He was much happier than he’d been last night. Clark kissed Lex again, and left the car. He entered the Daily Planet and took the elevator up to the newsroom. “Morning, Lois, Chloe, Jimmy,” he greeted. “What are we working on today?”
Both girls glared at him.
“Is there something you want to tell me, Clark?” Lois said, clearly giving him no chance to say ‘no’.
Chloe had told him he had to tell Lois. She was right. “I believe there is, Lois. C’mon, let’s go in the conference room,” Clark said. When they were in there, and sat down, Clark made Lois give him her word before he began his story, “My parents, Chloe and Lex also know what I’m about to tell you. You must not breathe a word of this to anyone other than the four of them, Lois. Promise me?”
“I promise, Clark,” she said solemnly.
Satisfied, Clark began: “Once upon a time, there was a little boy from Krypton, who landed on Earth in a small spaceship, and was taken in by Jonathan and Martha Kent...”
***
Remarkably, Lois let him finish his whole story, not interrupting once. And then, like the excellent reporter she was, she fired off the questions. Clark answered them as comprehensively as possible. Then he asked, “Do we have anything else on Dr Blacksmith?”
“Plenty, Clark!” Lois exclaimed, getting up. “Let me show you!”
They left the conference room. Chloe looked up at him, and Clark winked at her and mouthed, “Disaster averted.” Chloe gave him smile and a thumbs-up in response, and went back to looking at photos with Jimmy. While Lois gathered her notes, Clark sat at his desk and wondered how was Lex getting on. Then Lois descended on him and he had no more time to wonder.
***
There had indeed been a lot of swearing. In both Spanish and English.
“Can you and your boys and girls get it going again? I will not tell you why I need this particular weapon to be functional. But I will tell you that you’ll need volunteers to offer to have it fired at them. Just tell me you can do it, Diego,” Lex said, his voice stern.
“You only hire the best, don’t you? Of course we can do it, Lex,” Dr Martinez said. “Or is it M?”
This was a very old joke between them. “Thank you, Q,” Lex said, laughing. He exited the lab, and watched through the window in the door, as Diego called his team to the central table and showed them the gun.
Yes, they could do it. After all, he did only hire the best. The very, very best.
Lex went back up to his office and got on with the rest of his day’s work.
Around 2pm, someone screamed, “Help! UltraMan!”
Lex pulled the cowl and boots from his briefcase, changed and opened the window. Then he was in the air, and off in search of the person who needed his help. He could do this, just for a little while longer.
***
At the weekend, the Warrior Angel and Devilicus costumes arrived, by courier. They didn’t get much more than a passing glance and a phone call of thanks to Martha. Then they were put away until they could be more closely examined, when everything was back to what constituted normal, for them.
The sooner that happened, the better, as far as Clark was concerned. He couldn’t wait to see Lex in the purple, the mask and the wings.
Something he was soon informing Lex of, back in bed, between kisses and caresses.
10 - Renewal
On the Tuesday of his third week with Clark’s powers, Lex was summoned by Bruce Wayne (after playing a tortuous ‘I know you know I know’ game) to help with the victims of a landslide in California. When he arrived home that night, Clark took one look at him, put him in the shower and then put him to bed.
Later, Lex overheard Clark call Bruce and ask him what the hell he thought he was playing at. Clark sounded so mad, and so scared. He’d made the same kind of phone call himself on many occasions, back in the early days. This couldn’t go on much longer. Diego would be receiving a very stern phone call in the morning.
***
Standing in the kitchen, Lex called the lab at 8am the following morning, and with no preamble said, “Diego, it’s Lex. Is that gun working yet?”
”It is, Lex!” Dr Martinez exclaimed. ”It wasn’t too difficult to get it going again. There have been some minor burns, but that was to be expected. Can I keep this one, Lex?”
Lex could just see Diego’s expression, and chuckled to himself. “I’m sorry, Diego, but you can’t. I need it back.” Then Lex had another thought. Would switching the order of pieces of Kryptonite in the gun reverse its effects and help transfer Clark’s powers back to him? “Diego, can you change the sequence of the pieces of Kryptonite, so the laser passes through the redK first, not second? I’ll see you soon, you don’t need to call back. Goodbye.” Hanging up, Lex went to join Clark for breakfast.
“How’s the gun coming along, Lex?” Clark asked, as Lex sat down.
“It’s almost ready, Clark,” Lex said. “You should have your powers back within the next few days.” Lex saw Clark’s eyes light up at that.
“Be sure to thank Dr Martinez when you see him, Lex,” Clark said.
“Oh, I will, Clark. I certainly will,” Lex replied.
***
At 9.30am, Lex left the Kryptonite ballistics and armory lab with a fully functional red and green Kryptonite-powered laser gun. The weapon was ready. But who would fire it at them? Pondering that question, Lex went on to his office.
***
Over lunch in Lex’s office, Clark said, “It’s going to have to be Chloe, Lex. I know she can fire a gun. After the Nicodemus incident and Van McNulty, even though they both happened years ago, I don’t really want to ask Mom or Dad, and you know Lois and superheroes. She also knows her way around a gun, but she couldn’t see past UltraMan. I had to tell her everything else, but I didn’t tell her that particular secret.”
“You had to tell Lois Lane, Clark? I know you were going to, but it still makes me laugh. Well, love is supposed to be blind, and she’s certainly in love with Superman, so how could she see that he’s actually you? Chloe it is, then. Ask her to visit us this evening, and tell her to wear something warm. It’s cold, up in the sky,” Lex said.
“Will do, Lex,” Clark said. He kissed Lex goodbye, and went back to work.
***
That evening, Lex said, “Chloe, Clark has informed me that you are aware of our situation. He also tells me you are an expert markswoman. Can you tell us about that, please?”
Chloe’s eyes lit up. “Lois showed me how to fire an air rifle when I was 12, guys,” she told them. “Uncle Sam caught us, later. I don’t know if he was mad at Lois, or impressed with her. She nearly got grounded for a week, and then she reminded him that he’d taught her when she was 10. So he didn’t really have a leg to stand on, then. Maggie was so happy she didn’t have teach us how to shoot when Lois and I did that week with the Special Crimes Unit a couple of years ago.”
Looking at Lex for encouragement, Clark said, “You know that Kryptonite-powered laser gun you found? Well, it’s working again. We need to you come to the farm and fire it at us, Chloe.” He watched Chloe’s eyes go wide, at the request, but continued, “The shot should transfer my powers back to me. I know this is a lot to ask, but you’re one of the very few people we can ask to do this, so please say yes,” Clark said, pleading with his eyes.
“I never could refuse the puppy dog eyes, Clark. Or the weird and scary. Of course I’ll do it,” Chloe said. “Are we going now?”
“Yes, Chloe,” Lex said, rising from the sofa, grabbing his coat from its back and putting it on. “Clark, could you call your parents, tell them we’re on our way, and inform them of our plan? I’ll just take Chloe outside for a chat about the gun, and a short flight.”
“OK, Lex,” Clark replied. “See you both soon.”
Lex picked up the box with the gun in one arm. “Chloe, can you come out on the balcony? We’ll need to open the box. That will be far enough away from Clark, and it’s our launch site...”
***
Clark watched them leave, and made his call, on the encrypted line. “Hi, Mom. I’m on the secure line, so don’t worry about what I’m going to tell you. Lex, Chloe and I are on our way to you, with the Kryptonite-powered laser weapon. There was no way I could ask either you or Dad to do it, so Chloe’s going to fire it at me and Lex. The shot should give me my powers back.”
”Oh, Clark,” his mom said, with a sigh. ”Please don’t ask me or your dad to watch. I don’t think we could bear to.”
“I know, Mom. I know,” Clark said.
” We’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, Mom. I love you guys. Bye.” Clark hung up, and went to fetch his own coat.
A couple of minutes later, Lex came back inside. “Ready, Clark?” he asked.
“Yes, Lex. Let’s go and be shot at,” Clark said.
“That’s one way to put it, Clark,” Lex said, laughing.
They went out onto the balcony and locked the doors behind them. Lex took Chloe and Clark in his arms and flew off to Smallville. Clark’s parents were standing outside when they arrived, a few minutes later.
Once they’d landed, his dad greeted them. “Clark, I hope this crazy plan of yours works.”
“So do I, Dad,” Clark said. “C’mon, Lex, Chloe.”
They walked over to the barn, and Lex and Chloe walked away from Clark. Clark watched Lex open the box and hand the weapon to Chloe. Lex walked back to Clark, turned around, and stood right in front of him.
“Go, Chloe,” Lex said.
Chloe fired the gun, and Clark saw his parents out of the corner of his eye. His mom had her head on his dad’s shoulder, unable to watch.
The laser beam hit him and Lex. Clark soon felt an incredible amount of energy surging through him, felt his powers returning. It worked! But how was Lex feeling, losing all that power?
***
They weren’t knocked out this time, but Lex felt weak and he knew their “crazy plan” had worked. “Clark? Are you OK?” he asked, turning round.
“Never better, Lex,” Clark said, beaming down at him. “All systems go, but I could do with a solar recharge.”
Lex sighed in relief, and called Chloe, Martha and Jonathan over. Chloe first placed the gun back in the box, and picked it up. Clark ensured them he was OK, and embraced them. Then Lex said, “Shall we go inside? I think Clark needs to find the sun and recharge his batteries. Any pie or cookies available, Martha?”
Martha said, “There’s always pie and cookies, Lex. Jon, you can make us some tea to go with them...”
***
Clark watched them all go inside, and launched himself into the sky. Extending his bioelectric aura, to protect his clothes, he went to the sun, and basked in its warmth and light. The solar energy poured into him. Feeling energised, and so much better, he sped back to Earth.
“That’s better!” Clark said, entering the farmhouse, and joining everyone at the kitchen table. Then he remembered that he’d missed something in his hurry to recharge. “Lex? Are you OK?” he asked.
“I will be, Clark,” Lex said, his eyes narrowing. “However, you look a bit high to me. Sure you didn’t get too much sun?”
“I’m fine, Lex,” Clark said, lightly kissing him. “Are you and Chloe ready to go back to Metropolis?”
“I believe we are, Clark,” Lex said, rising from his chair. “Let me get the box, and we’ll go. Thank you for the hospitality, Martha and Jonathan. See you soon.”
They all went outside, and said their goodbyes. Clark held Lex in one arm and Chloe in the other and once again launched himself into the sky.
Flight. This amazing power was his own buzz, his own high. Thanks to his husband and his friend, he’d got it back. He held them both closer, and flew on.
***
Minutes later, Clark dropped Lex and the gun at the penthouse. He went on to drop Chloe near her building, and hugged her goodbye, thanking her for her help.
And then Clark returned to the penthouse. He landed on the balcony and entered the penthouse, locking the doors behind him. Where was his husband, though? Clark x-rayed their home, and found Lex in the bedroom, already naked. Lex was two steps ahead of him, like he often was.
Clark sped to their bedroom, and stripped off his own clothes. “To tell the truth, Lex, I am a little high. Maybe I did get too much sun,” he said.
Lex said, “We’d better expend some of that energy then, hadn’t we? C’mere, Clark.”
Clark joined Lex on the bed. They exchanged kisses, and then made love more passionately than they had in weeks.
They were back to their version of normal, and they couldn’t be happier.
***
When Clark was asleep, Lex removed the gun from the storage box, and removed both pieces of kryptonite from the gun.
More toys.
The red piece was much larger than the one they already had. Clark was so sexy when they played that game.
Lex smiled wickedly to himself in anticipation.
Epilogue
A few days later, Dr Penelope Blacksmith was arrested on a variety of charges, including violence and stalking. It was discovered that she’d once worked for LexLabs. Lex launched an investigation into how her background had not been thoroughly checked out. He also began the process of suing her. Despite the fact that LexCorp’s stock price had soon recovered, when Superman had returned to duty.
Lex and Clark got back into their usual rhythm, with Lex congratulating Clark on jobs well done, and comforting him after the difficult rescues and the near misses. And Lex now had a frame of reference for just how hard Clark’s second job could be. They needed to have a debrief about the last few weeks...
***
A week after Clark’s powers had been returned to him, sitting on the sofa, they had their conversation.
Lex said, "Clark, whenever someone asks me who the one person I admire most is, I say you. And even though I thought I knew how difficult being you can be, I realized that I didn’t. I learned first hand that the hardest part about being you is all the things you can't do. All the cries for help that you can't answer and how that quietly tears you, and me apart. It never stops you. And after living a little of that myself I realized something--something I never thought was possible. I love you more. More than I ever have.”
“Oh, Lex, I love you, too,” Clark said, pulling him into an embrace.
They just held each other close for a few minutes, and then Lex said, “I think we have some costumes to play with, Clark?”
Lex watched Clark’s eyes begin to glow. “We do, Lex. I really want to see you in, and very swiftly out of, purple spandex and white wings,” Clark said. “C’mon. Bed!”
“Indeed, Clark. I believe superspeed could now be put to good use?” Lex said.
Clark picked Lex up, and whooshed them to the bedroom.
***
And in the bedroom, Clark quickly stripped them both. They dressed themselves in the costumes, and lastly placed the masks over their faces. They then undressed each other, slowly pulling off the boots and masks, removing the wings and peeling off the spandex, exchanging kisses between each item.
Lex as Warrior Angel
Clark as Devilicus
When they were once again naked, Clark had another idea. “Lex, put on the wings back on. And the mask.”
“We’re back to the masks, are we, Clark?” Lex purred. “They do make you so very, very hot, don’t they? Would you like to play with the lead-lined one, later?"
The lead-lined mask...“God, yes, Lex,” Clark said. “But I really want to play with the wings and your own mask right now,” he growled.
Handing Clark the mask, and presenting him with the back of his head, Lex said, “Fasten the strap, Clark, and then get on the bed.”
Clark did as asked, and watched as Lex slipped the wings back on. Lex then climbed onto the bed himself, and straddled Clark’s body. Clark had to fight to control his heat vision, he was so turned on by the sight of Lex. They then began kissing and caressing each other. Soon, the bedroom was full of the sounds of lovemaking.
Asking his mom to make these costumes had been such a wonderful idea. And there was the lead-lined mask to look forward to. Clark purred in anticipation.
-end-
French line - “Adèle, les ailes sont très belles. Je les voudrais aussi, s’il vous plaît.” - “Adèle, the wings are very beautiful. I would like them as well, please.”
Dedicated to astrea9562, on her birthday.
Title: To Fly A Mile In Another Man’s Boots
Author: laurab1
Length: approx. 9900 words
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Rating: R/15
Category: denialfic, complete AU
Spoilers: Up to S5 of Smallville, various Superman comics and the Lois&Clark episode, Ultrawoman
Warning: very mild kink/toys
Summary: What do you do when you end up with Superman's powers?
Disclaimer: None of these people, other than the original characters, are mine.
Feedback is loved and appreciated :) Hope you enjoy!
To Fly A Mile In Another Man’s Boots
by Laura
Metropolis, 2015
Prologue
When it happened, Lex had been in the middle of a desperate attempt to protect Clark from Metropolis’s latest freak. The woman had recently been the subject of a Daily Planet exposé and was now armed with a weapon powered by green and red Kryptonite, gleefully informing them of this fact. God knew what effect that combination would have on Clark. Only half thinking, Lex had stood in front of Clark, and the weapon had been fired. The energy had switched and surged between them, and Lex had taken most of the force of the blast. They had both been knocked out, thus giving the woman a chance to escape.
They’d swiftly regained consciousness, and the first thing Lex had said was, ”Clark, you’re bleeding.” He’d continued, “Also, I can hear what I presume is your heart hammering away. Something’s wrong...”
Lex had been desperately trying not to panic.
“Lex, we know exactly what’s wrong,” Clark had replied, working it out straight away and sounding only a little calmer than Lex. “Thanks to that Kryptonite-powered laser gun, you’ve got my powers. I can’t hear Metropolis and the rest of the world screaming away at me.”
“Oh, hell,” Lex had muttered, now deciding to panic.
***
Lex did indeed have Clark’s powers. Every single one of them; strength, speed, vision, invulnerability (well, enhancing what he already had), hearing, breath, flight.
Hours later, when he’d stopped freaking out and had time to start processing everything, Lex had seen possibilities. With Superman (surely only temporarily) gone, who’d protect Metropolis?
Cover
1 - Masks
The following evening, they were sat at the dinner table, and Clark could hear Lex thinking, his husband was being so obvious. He took a deep breath before speaking. “Lex, no. You’re not patrolling. You’re not asking my mom to make you a Warrior Angel uniform.”
He didn’t say, you don’t know even how to use my powers yet.
“Why, Clark? Superman’s incapacitated. Who’s looking after the city?”
“People will freak out!" Even more than they sometimes did at Superman. Clark chose to sort of ignore the second question for the time being. The police were looking after the city. Metropolis would just have to get by without Superman for a while. It had done so for over one hundred years. But there were always the ones that the police couldn’t get to...
“I’d be wearing a mask, Clark,” Lex purred, pulling Clark out of his introspection. “It’s part of his uniform. We know how interesting masks are. Do you remember that particular adventure in bed?”
God, yes. Clark most certainly did. A beautiful black leather item, lined with a fine lead wire mesh... Masks were indeed interesting. And fun. And so very, very hot and sexy. He had a thought. There was no way Lex was patrolling, it wasn’t worth risking. Maybe there were other uses for the uniform. Or uniforms, to be more precise.
“Well, my Mom did make the Superman uniforms. We could ask her to make us Warrior Angel and Devilicus costumes. And suggest that she doesn’t ask questions.” There would be an awful lot of squirming if there were questions.
“Your mother is a Metropolis girl, Clark. She’s aware of our relationship. She wouldn’t need to even think about asking questions,” Lex said, like it was nothing.
“Lex!” Clark was almost completely scandalised.
“What? You suggested it, Clark. And it’s true. We should be grateful,” Lex said.
Just how had they got to this point? Clark was confused. Distracting, confusing Lex! Curse him and his powers of being sexy!
Well, they probably needed to leave for Smallville. The sooner his mom made the costumes, the sooner they could play fun games in bed.
“C’mon, Lex. It’s getting dark, we can risk two flights. And we could ask Mom to make sure both costumes fit both me and you.” Clark could just see Lex in Devilicus’s bright red suit.
Lex was equally eager to see Clark in Warrior Angel’s purple one. “I like the way you think, Clark. Let me grab our coats and my reading copy of the latest Warrior Angel. Then you have to remind me just how you manage to fly. Of all your powers, that one never ceases to amaze me,” Lex said, going to their bedroom.
He soon returned, carrying their long coats. “Pick me up like I pick you up. You’ll need to launch us off the balcony...” Clark said, as he accepted his coat and put it on.
While Clark continued the explanation, Lex ensured the comic was safely stowed in his own coat pocket. They went out onto the balcony, locking the doors behind them. Lex stood on the balcony, with Clark in his arms and butterflies in his stomach. He crouched and stretched, and mastered the power of flight almost immediately.
“That was great, Lex!” Clark said.
“Yes, Clark,” Lex agreed, laughing a little nervously.
Then they were in the air, and off to Smallville.
***
A few minutes later, Clark and Lex landed in front of the Kent farmhouse, and walked inside. Martha Kent was in the kitchen, clearing up after dinner. “Boys!” She was happy to see them, and hugged them in greeting.
When Lex was released, he looked at Clark for encouragement, took a deep breath and made the request. “Martha, we need you to make a couple of items for us...”
2 - Wings
Martha had blushed (but only a little!) at what was, basically, a request from her son-in-law for her to make some fetish wear. And she wasn’t going to admit just how she knew that phrase. Well, OK, she’d been to Europe when she was eighteen, the summer before she’d started college. There were some really bohemian parts of London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Lex and Clark could have had the costumes made by Lex’s tailor or a specialist, but they’d chosen to bring the job to her. Martha vowed to make two amazing costumes. She poked, prodded, measured and made notes. Lex said he would organise the materials and get them sent to her. She then hugged and kissed them goodbye.
***
Seconds later, Lex and Clark were in the air. “We didn’t tell Mom that you had my powers, Lex,“ Clark said.
“I thought that could wait, Clark,“ Lex replied. Just how long was another matter. “We’ve only just begun to deal with the situation ourselves.”
“We need to tell my parents at some point, Lex. They’ll figure out something’s wrong when Superman’s not on the news rescuing people from a mudslide, and the rest of the League is,” Clark said.
“I know, Clark. I know,” Lex sighed. Clark had a point. “Please just let me fly us home, now.”
Those words coming from Lex’s mouth said it all. The thrill and adrenaline from earlier had unfortunately gone now, and Lex just concentrated on getting them home.
***
The next day was a Saturday, giving Lex time to go shopping for fabric. He paid a visit to a costumier, one he’d frequented every weekend, back when he was eighteen, and a rebellious club kid. He visited the store about once a month, now. Everybody who was anybody went to Allure. The owner was an eccentric Frenchwoman, Mme Adèle Gaultier, and there were many beautiful items among her stock.
“Alexandre! Bonjour!” Adèle said, when Lex entered her store.
“Bonjour, Adèle. Comment allez-vous?” Lex replied.
“Très bien, merci. How can I help you today, Alexandre?” Adèle asked.
“Adèle, I’d like six yards each of purple and red spandex, matching leather half-masks and size eleven purple leather boots,” he said.
“Très bien, Alexandre. Look around, while I cut the fabric,” Adèle said.
Lex examined the latest arrivals, while he waited for Adèle. His eyes eventually landed on a mannequin wearing a pair of angel wings. “Adèle, les ailes sont très belles. Je les voudrais aussi, s’il vous plaît," he said.
“Oui, Alexandre,” Adèle said. “I will find your other things, maintenant.”
***
Having tried on the boots, Lex paid for his purchases and asked Adèle to have the fabric delivered to Smallville. The masks, boots and wings went in the limo, and back to the penthouse with Lex. He and Clark would be playing with the wings tonight. The rest of the uniforms could wait.
***
From the office, Clark heard Lex arrive back at the penthouse, and soon had him in his arms. They kissed in greeting.
“Lex! What did you buy?” Clark said, when he saw the box and bags on the sofa. Allure, the name of the infamous Metropolis costume store, was printed on them, in large, flowing script.
“Open the box and see, Clark.” Lex’s purring had returned.
Uh oh. Clark could feel himself blushing. He carefully removed the lid, and saw the wings. Rather than any sort of angel, he was reminded of subverting convention and half naked male ballet dancers. There was a sudden lack of blood in the upper half of his body.
“Lex, these are gorgeous! They’ll go just right with the rest of the costume!” Clark exclaimed. The wings were indeed gorgeous; four feet long and two feet wide, white and made with real turkey feathers.
“I thought so, too, Clark. The second time I saw you, you were hovering over me, all wet and beautiful and I was sure you were an angel. So, I couldn’t wait to see the wings on you; just them, nothing else.”
Again with the sexy voice! “Bedroom,” Clark almost growled, gathering up the wings, “now, Lex.”
Lex supersped them there.
In the bedroom, there was kissing, stripping off of clothes and more kissing. Then they actually remembered the wings. Clark got off the bed and slid the straps onto his shoulders. Looking at his reflection in the full length mirror, Clark gasped. Turning back to Lex, he waited for his reaction.
Clark wearing just the wings
“You look like a naked angel, Clark. Beautiful,” Lex breathed.
“I thought angels were smooth, Lex. Kind of not, y’know?” Clark said.
“Well,” Lex said, casting a pointed look at the object of Clark’s words, “you must be a fallen angel, then. Cast out of Heaven on the pretext of being corrupt, but really they were all just jealous of how big you are. There, particularly.” There was a smirk to round off Lex’s words.
“And I suppose you actually corrupted me?” Clark asked.
“I most definitely did, Clark. But not completely, though. C’mere, Lucifer,” Lex said, smiling.
Clark went. And then there was even more kissing. And a lot of moaning and screaming. Just as they’d predicted, Clark wearing Lex’s Warrior Angel wings had led to the first of many interesting bedroom adventures with those particular items. They slept like spoons, Clark behind Lex, wrapping them both in the beautiful wings.
It was only later that they noticed the wings and the bed had a few scorch marks on them. That power worked the same way in another body, then.
Clark and Lex wrapped in the wings
3 - Responsibility
The following Tuesday, while working at home, the reality of the situation actually hit Lex.
Clark was at the Daily Planet writing story after story about his own disappearance. They didn’t have their usual "burden". Lex wasn’t comforting Clark when he came home physically and emotionally exhausted, often bearing tales of how he’d been mere seconds too late to save someone but in time to hear their last scream, though. In those situations, Lex would take Clark’s face in his hands. He’d force Clark to look at him and remind him for the millionth time that he just couldn’t save everybody, and he’d drive himself mad if he tried to do so. “I have to try, Lex,” Clark would reply. From his tone of voice, Lex would know there was no convincing him otherwise, and would once again resign himself to sharing Clark with the world for the rest of their lives.
With Lex’s advanced healing and Clark’s solar powered body, they both knew that could well be a very, very long time.
Now Lex could hear all those final screams, along with all the other noises of Metropolis. He was experiencing exactly how Clark felt after a draining patrol. And like Clark, he had to do something. This was his city. He had to protect its citizens.
Yes, he’d felt an undeniable excitement in actually being Warrior Angel, but like Clark had said, that could cause panic and confusion. However, there was no reason he couldn’t appear as someone-else...
UltraMan? With a shield? Yes, that would work.
Also, it saved Clark, Lois and the rest of the press the trouble of coming up with what would probably be a stupid name for him.
Lex quickly sketched out a design. He then went to Clark’s uniform closet, and retrieved just a shirt, no tights or cape. Rolling them up and placing them in a pocket of his long black coat, he quickly flew off to Smallville. Martha Kent was getting more work.
***
When she saw Lex land in front of the farmhouse, looking like something from The Matrix, one of Clark’s favorite movies, Martha was very confused. When had this happened? Did Clark still have his powers? Had Lex flown himself and Clark to Smallville a few days ago? Lex opened the front door and walked inside. “I saw you land, Lex,“ she immediately told him. “What’s going on?”
Oh, hell. Crunch time. Lex explained it all, starting with the Kryptonite fuelled gun. “I need a uniform, Martha. I have to help. I have to try and stop some of the screaming. It’s giving me a headache.” Finishing his explanation, Lex felt drained.
Martha could see Lex was only just holding it together. She and Jonathan had failed both him and Clark once, in a similar situation. She would not do that again. Clark had come into his powers one by one. He’d mastered each one and had time to get used to it, before the next power came along, and the cycle started all over again. Lex had received all of them at once. It was no wonder he was so upset. “What did you have in mind, sweetheart?” she asked.
Lex got out the shirt and the drawing. “I’d like you to remove the ‘S’ shield and replace it with a ‘U’ shield. I’ll need something to cover my head as well. I’m calling myself UltraMan. I have boots back at the penthouse.”
“I think I can manage this, Lex,“ Martha said, looking at the sketch. “I’ll do this one first, of course. Does Clark know about this?” she asked.
“No, he doesn’t. I hope his reaction is positive. His teenage temper still makes the occasional appearance. We still argue and disagree, but nowhere near as often or violently as we once did. Thank God we managed to see past all the misunderstandings and he finally trusted me with all his secrets...”
Lex’s thoughts trailed off. Surely Martha could see how bad he felt? Could he tell her his other thoughts and feelings?
“Do you want to ask me something else, Lex?” she said.
“Just...how does Clark stay sane, Martha? If he was anyone else, I’d take him to a shrink. But he’s Superman, and thanks to my Belle Reve experience, I don’t trust shrinks, so I can’t,” Lex admitted.
“You know how, Lex. He has his family and friends; you, me, Jonathan, Chloe, Perry, Lois, Jimmy. He’s one of the world’s protectors. He can’t afford to be insane, so he also has two identities, so Superman isn’t always working,“ Martha said. “Are you ready to have two identities, Lex?”
Lex had a vague feeling of déja vu; had something like this happened before? The sheer irony of splitting oneself in two to stay sane still made him laugh, and it had been his plan, in the first place. He was certainly prepared to try. There were a lot of people counting on him. “I am, Martha. I am,” he said confidently.
Martha smiled. “Good. Now go back to Metropolis, talk to Clark and show him the sketch. Order the fabric tomorrow, get the sketch back to me, and I’ll have the uniform done as soon as I can. Don’t drive yourself mad in the meantime.”
God, he loved this woman. “Thank you so much, Martha. Goodbye.”
Leaving the uniform with Martha and pocketing the drawing, Lex exited the house and launched himself into the air. He had a lot to think about.
4 - Genesis
A few minutes later, Lex was back in Metropolis. He landed near the penthouse building and walked the rest of the way. The security guards greeted him as he entered the building. He took the private elevator up to the top floor and the penthouse.
Clark was already home when he got there. What would his reaction to Lex’s plan be? Having kissed him, Lex bit the bullet. “Clark, I’m patrolling. I need to. I have to. I’m calling myself UltraMan and Martha’s making me a uniform.”
“OK, Lex,” Clark replied.
”’OK, Lex’? Is that all? No ‘no way’?” Lex couldn’t believe that was the sum total of his reaction.
“I thought about it, and realised that I’d been stupid to even try and stop you. You don’t stop me, even though you might like to, sometimes. I was just a little uptight about having lost my powers,” Clark admitted.
OK, that was a positive reaction. Lex smiled. “Clark, would you like to see my uniform design?”
“I’d love to, Lex,” Clark said, smiling back at him.
***
“You’ll look amazing, Lex. Metropolis won’t know what hit it,” Clark said, clearly impressed.
Lex smiled, and said, “Thank you. Good to know my instincts were right. One more thing, though, Clark.”
“What’s that, Lex?” Clark asked.
“I’m terrified about this,” Lex reluctantly admitted.
“I’ll treat you just like you treat me after an exhausting patrol, Lex,” Clark assured him.
Oh, comfort cuddling and kissing, which Lex normally took charge of. He suddenly wasn’t quite so terrified. “I look forward to that, Clark,” Lex replied happily.
Clark said, “I thought you might. Shall we get some practice in?”
“God, yes,” Lex said, leering at Clark.
Clark then said, ”And tomorrow, I’m teaching you how to use the rest of my powers, if you’re going to do this.”
“OK, Clark,” Lex replied.
Lex used his superspeed to get them to the bedroom, naked and into bed, so they could conduct their practice. And very pleasurable practice it was, too.
5 - Training
The next morning, Lex informed his PA he would be working at home. Then he went to Allure, bought the fabric for UltraMan’s uniform and flew it and the drawing to Smallville.
Clark told Perry and Lois he would be working from home as well. Really, they’d both be training Lex how to use the rest of the powers.
Lex had already mastered flight and superspeed. By the end of the day, he had also fired bullets at his own body with no ill effect and lifted the dining table with one hand. He’d looked through solid objects and lit candles with his own eyes. He’d trained his hearing to pick up noises from a long way away. He’d also frozen a bottle of vodka with his breath.
“Lex, you were great! You understood all the powers!” Clark exclaimed.
“I had a excellent teacher, Clark. I think I’m ready to be UltraMan, now,” Lex said.
Clark was impressed with Lex. He could do this. He could be a superhero.
That didn’t prevent Clark from being scared stiff for him. This must have been how Lex had felt during Clark’s early days as Superman.
***
On Thursday, they went back to work. Martha called Lex on his cell at 1pm, to say the uniform was done. Lex told her he’d fly in to pick it up that night.
So, after their evening meal, Lex went to Smallville. He arrived back at the penthouse just fifteen minutes later.
“Lex! Can I see?” Clark breezily asked.
”No, Clark. Wait until tomorrow night,” Lex informed him, with a smirk.
“Spoilsport,” Clark retorted, pouting.
“Are you sure you’re nearly thirty, Clark?” Lex said. Clark just stuck his tongue out at Lex, proving his point for him.
6 - Debut
The next night, Lex stood in the penthouse’s lounge, being circled by Clark. He wore the re-styled blue shirt, a pair of Clark’s blue tights, a cowl that covered his bare head and blue leather boots.
Lex as UltraMan
“Mom really did a good job. The uniform looks great, Lex. Shows off all your best assets,” Clark said, leering at him.
“It’s not meant to do that, Clark. But yours does exactly the same thing,” Lex leered back.
“Yeah, I know. Mom says it being that tight cuts down on wind resistance,” Clark said.
“I’m sure that’s her excuse, Clark,” Lex smirked, and watched Clark’s eyes go wide. He then sobered. It was 9pm and tonight would be UltraMan’s debut. Lex was a little nervous about just what he’d encounter.
“C’mon, Lex, time for UltraMan to go save Metropolis,” Clark said, bringing him out of his thoughts. “Be back by midnight, though. Otherwise, your uniform will turn back into a suit and tie.”
Clark’s joke, as bad as it was, cheered Lex up considerably. “OK, Clark, I’ll see you later. God knows what sort of state I’ll be in, though,” he said, before pulling Clark close to kiss him goodbye.
When they separated, Lex walked over to the balcony doors and slid them open. On the balcony, he crouched and stretched, launching UltraMan into the night sky and off on his first patrol.
Lex pretended he didn’t hear Clark burying his head in his hands and crying.
***
Nearly three hours later, UltraMan’s debut night was coming to an end. He had rescued two cats from a tree. They belonged to a young girl and boy, who had both beamed up at him in gratitude. Lex had smiled back, informing them he was a friend. Using his Navy Seal training, he’d saved four people from muggers, and two teenage girls from being raped. All the criminals had been delivered to the police; everyone who'd had a crime perpetrated against them had been encouraged to press charges.
Still, the city seemed to be as lawless and noisy as it had been at 9pm. UltraMan had stopped a few muggings, saved a couple of girls. Had he actually made any difference?
Lex was exhausted. He needed the comfort of home. He needed his husband. He began to fly back to the penthouse, back to Clark. How the hell did Clark do this, night after night after night?
***
It was around midnight and Clark was nearly asleep when he heard a sound on the balcony, signalling Lex’s return. He got up from the sofa and walked towards the balcony doors. Lex slid open the doors and entered the penthouse. He was carrying the cowl; he’d already taken it off.
One look in Lex’s eyes told Clark what he had to do. He took the cowl from Lex’s hand and placed it on a table. Then he took Lex in his arms and let him cry, for as long as he needed to.
***
When Lex had calmed, Clark sat them down on the sofa and started to ask him about the patrol. “How did it go, Lex? What happened? Who did UltraMan save?” Or not save, as the case may be.
Lex told him about the cats, the kids, the mugging victims, the teenage girls and all the criminals. “That was hard work, Clark. How the hell do you do this, nearly all the time?” he asked.
Clark had to think for a bit before answering. “With difficulty, Lex. Even though there’s the rest of the League, it’s never easy. There’s always another natural disaster. People always want to hurt other people. I didn’t understand why fifteen years ago, when my powers started manifesting themselves. I still don’t understand why. There’s a joy in saving someone, though.”
***
Lex thought about Clark’s words. Yes, saving people had been good. It had made him happy. People were alive and safe because of him. “Saving someone is great, Clark,” Lex agreed. Clark smiled at him and his mood brightened.
“C’mon, Clark,” Lex said, standing up and pulling Clark up off the sofa by his hand. “Bedtime. I want to make out with my husband.”
“Just make out? Is that all?” Clark said.
“I’m too tired to do anything else. We can make love in the morning,” Lex replied.
“Good plan, Lex. Good plan,” Clark said. They went to bed and just made out for ten minutes, before falling blissfully asleep.
7 - Savior
And so they continued on in their new roles, Lex’s confidence as a superhero increasing all the time. A few days after UltraMan’s debut, Bruce Wayne called the penthouse’s very secret, very secure and very heavily encrypted telephone line:
”Clark, when you get your powers back from Lex, please come and see me.”
“Yes, sir,” Clark replied. “Bye, Bruce.”
Typical Bruce. Clark could kill him, sometimes. Just how had he worked it out? And when had he worked it out? Oh, Clark knew how. Out of all of them, Bruce had the best mind and the best moves. Those were his superpowers. Well, and his money.
(Lex had the best toys, though.)
All of which meant that ‘when’ was probably the Sunday morning after UltraMan’s debut. After pulling an all-nighter to go over Friday and Saturday's information at least a dozen times. Not that he was obsessive, or anything. “I'd better tell Lex that Bruce knows. That’ll be so much fun,” Clark said to himself.
Clark had found that with the loss of his powers, he was becoming tired far more easily. This meant that he was already in bed when Lex eventually returned, and climbed in beside him. At 2am. Clark decided the conversation could wait until morning. He pulled Lex close, and went back to sleep.
***
“Lex, Bruce knows. He called the penthouse last night,” Clark blurted, in the morning.
He didn’t say, he’d worked it out practically immediately.
“Does he now? Of course he does. Well, UltraMan will just have to fly a little lower, then, so the Wayne-Swann satellites can’t pick him up anymore,” Lex stated, with only a hint of menace.
Clark gulped.
***
1pm on Wednesday, the Daily Planet received a call to say it would be set on fire unless Superman appeared. Such calls were fairly commonplace, unfortunately. This did, however, mean that everyone knew the drill. Jimmy sounded the alarm, while Perry, Lois and Chloe made sure everyone got out safely.
Meanwhile, Clark changed into Superman, and then left the building himself. Yes, he was still wearing part of his uniform under his clothes, and no, he couldn’t explain why. Well, OK, it was on the offchance that he suddenly regained his powers. And he loved the feel of the fabric against his skin.
Lex had been such a bad influence on him.
Clark just had about had time to notice the already prepared line of flammable liquid leading to the Daily Planet. He’d done as requested, and was about to ask for something to neutralize the liquid. Then some crazy person the set the line on fire, anyway.
“Lex! Hurry up and get over here! The Daily Planet’s going to catch fire and I can’t put the flames out!” Clark quietly exclaimed. He was trying not to panic, he really was.
A second later, there was a blast of ice cold air, the flames were extinguished, and UltraMan flew into view. Clark breathed an extremely heavy sigh of relief. Lex landed like he’d been flying for years, not nearly two weeks.
***
UltraMan and Superman
Jimmy had taken a picture of the two of them, which would doubtlessly be on the Daily Planet’s website in hours, and on the front page of tomorrow’s first printed edition. Now, Perry and Lois were walking towards them. Lex was convinced that Perry White (who he had once upon a time run out of Smallville), editor-in-chief of the great metropolitan newspaper, that UltraMan had by some apparent miracle not appeared in, was going to address him as ‘Son’, so the ‘Sir’ came as a surprise.
“Sir! Thank you, you saved our building. Who are you? What’s your name? Where did you come from?”
Being bombarded with questions, however, was no surprise whatsoever.
“My name is UltraMan. I’m a friend of Superman’s,” Lex calmly replied, keeping his cool.
“Indeed he is, Mr White,” Clark said in the deeper (and so much more sexy) voice he used as Superman.
And Lois Lane just had to have the last word. “Superman, his uniform is so much hotter than yours,” she remarked, running her eyes up and down Lex.
Lois was another person Clark occasionally wanted to kill. It was just as well she was an excellent reporter, and a close friend of both Clark and Superman.
And that was UltraMan’s daylight debut.
8 - Weapon
When they all got back inside and Clark was back in his Clark persona, he thought about what had happened. Clearly, someone had wanted to draw Superman out of “hiding”. Who, though? He got Jimmy to trace the call. It had been made from a warehouse, on a land line. There were no names, though, nothing at all which would indicate who owned the warehouse. A more thorough investigation appeared to be in order.
Clark searched all the city records using the methods Chloe had taught him (only some of which he thought were legal.) He searched using the methods Lex had taught him (none of which he knew were legal). Still nothing. Whoever owned the place was hidden behind God knows how many fronts and dummy companies. An even more thorough investigation was definitely in order.
“Lois!” Clark called, across the newsroom.
“What’s up, Smallville?” she replied, walking over to him.
“Black ops mission, tonight,” Clark said.
“Oh, yes,” Lois purred, looking him straight in the eyes. “Bring it on, Clark.”
God, they were a strange bunch: himself, Lois, Chloe and Jimmy. Black ops usually entailed breaking and entering, or distracting a receptionist or security guard while Clark speed read some files, and they got such a buzz from it.
Clark felt a little flustered at the intensity of Lois’s regard, but he explained the task at hand. “Take Chloe and Jimmy, break into the warehouse we were checking out earlier, and see what you can find there. See if you can work out who owns the place.”
“Aren’t you coming, Clark?” Lois asked.
“No, Lois. Lex and I doing something special, tonight,” he lied. Well, he could hardly say, ‘My husband’s doing my second job for me and I have to do his for him,’ could he?
As Lois walked back to her desk, Clark remembered his early encounters with her...
***
After completing his journalism degree, Clark had gone travelling around the world. He’d wanted to “find himself”, and he and Lex had got by on emails and phone calls for nearly three years. The longest three years of their lives. Clark had spent that time exploring and learning. And sometimes, writing, earning himself a good reputation.
And then there were the rescues. But they were less successful, and in more remote areas, he’d often ended up frightening the people he was trying to help. Perhaps a disguise could be useful, something he’d communicated to Lex after some of the bad rescues.
He’d returned to Metropolis to find Chloe’s byline finally on the Daily Planet’s front page, with the news that she and Lois would be on the maiden flight of LexAir’s experimental passenger travel space plane.
He’d also discovered that Lex had been planning over the three years they’d been apart, and had found a uniform ready and waiting for him, with a version of the symbol of his Kryptonian house as the insignia. Little had he known that he’d be forced into donning the uniform and going into action that day, as the plane had malfunctioned and he’d had to leap into the air to ensure it landed safely.
He’d been mobbed. And absolutely terrified at being surrounded by so many people, and that much noise. He couldn’t possibly live that like all the time, so he, his parents, Chloe and Lex had created “Clark Kent”.
He’d written the story of the rescue, and sent it to the newswires. On Chloe’s suggestion, he’d referred to Metropolis’s new costumed hero as, “Superman”.
Perry White had picked up the story and hired him, and he’d met Jimmy Olsen, genius photographer and budding reporter, and Chloe’s cousin, and occasional writing partner, the Daily Planet’s other star reporter, Lois Lane.
She was tall, with long, dark hair and amazing legs. In other words, the most gorgeous woman he’d seen in years. Clark had felt a little guilty for thinking that, and had apologised to Lex in his head.
Clark had later discovered that like Chloe, Lois possessed a soft centre hidden behind a hard shell, which could be both annoying and endearing.
***
That night, while sitting around waiting for Lex, Clark had a call from Chloe.
“Clark, we found a couple of things. A Kryptonite-powered laser gun and a name. The gun looks like it’s broken, and we’re taking it with us, by the way. The warehouse belongs to Dr Penelope Blacksmith.”
Broken? Well, there was a considerable amount of energy switching and surging that day. His powers must have shorted the gun. “We just did a story on her, Chloe. She really hates me. She’s the one that fired that gun at me and Lex,” Clark said.
“She hates all of us, Clark,”Chloe said, “and it looks like she worked out the secret identity thing, as well. I managed to drag Lois away from some of the stuff, but you’re going to have to tell her. It’s not right that she still doesn’t know. She’s one of your best friends. You love her. In another life, you’d probably be with her, if you weren’t married to Lex. Who got your powers from the blast--he’s currently out saving the world in your stead, isn’t he?”
Oh, God. Damn Chloe’s lightning fast brain! “Yes,” Clark sighed, “yes to everything, Chloe. You three get out of there, get home. I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight.” He hung up.
Then there was a thump on the balcony. Early, tonight. That was odd. Lex came in, and Clark waited on the sofa until he had changed out of his uniform before he gave his husband all the news.
“Hell, Clark,” Lex replied, sitting down and pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Precisely,” Clark said.
“Call Chloe back. Get her to bring the weapon here, on her own. We need to get LexLabs going on it in the morning, get it working again. I don’t know if either of us will be vulnerable to the Kryptonite, so I’ll find the lead-lined storage box, just in case,” Lex said, managing to be all business.
They needed somewhere to store the Kryptonite.
That they sometimes played with.
In bed.
Lex got the box while Clark made the call. Why was he so adamant about having the gun so soon? Clark then asked, “Lex? Why did you come back so much earlier, tonight? It’s only midnight, and you’ve been getting in about 2am usually.”
And Lex’s face fell. “Clark, I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
Something really bad must have happened for Lex to just say that.
“What happened, Lex?” Clark softly asked.
“A narrowly averted plane crash, swiftly followed by a train de-railing. I safely landed the plane at JFK, but was unable to get to the train quickly enough and people died. Why wasn’t I quick enough, Clark? What did I do wrong?”
He could see Lex was trying not to cry, so Clark pulled him close and said, “Lex, you did nothing wrong. Sometimes, even I’m not fast enough. Yes, it hurts. You know it hurts, you’ve comforted me like this God knows how many times. Focus on the lives you did save.”
Then the internal phone rang. Clark picked it up and the head doorman informed him of Chloe’s arrival. Chloe was soon at the penthouse door, accompanied by one of the doormen. She held the gun, which just made Clark feel a little weak. And a little aroused. Oh.
Lex noticed Clark’s reaction, the slight fire in his eyes, picked up the already open brick-sized box, and said to Chloe, “Drop that in here immediately.” She did so, and he closed the lid. Lex placed the box on a table.
“Is there anything else we need to know, Chloe?” Clark asked, feeling better.
“No, Clark, there’s nothing else. I left Jimmy and Lois downstairs. Can I go, now?” Chloe said.
“Yes, you can go. Thanks for bringing it. Goodnight,” Clark answered.
“’Night, guys,” she replied, and left with a smile.
Lex looked even worse, now the gun was in their home. Clark took him by the hand and said, “Let’s go to bed, Lex. You can’t do anything with it now. Take it to LexLabs in the morning, like you said.”
LexLabs would undoubtedly be able to get the broken weapon working again. Clark knew that they’d need to brave being blasted with it again to return his powers back to him. It could be painful. But that was what they needed to do. Clark missed being Superman, he missed the sun charging him up and he hated being so tired. And he had rarely seen Lex so broken as he had been earlier.
He needed to tell Lex how he felt. The status quo needed to be returned. They went to bed, and just went to sleep. Neither of them had the energy for anything else.
9 - Resolve
In the morning, over breakfast, Clark decided to take the bull by the horns and just go for it.
“Lex, I miss being Superman. I miss the sun charging me up, I miss my powers. Last night, you were so broken, so upset, Lex. It scared me. And other than your first night as UltraMan, the last time I was that scared, you were...”
Clark couldn’t say the rest, so was thankful that Lex asked, “Singing to a rolled up blanket?”
“Yes, Lex,” Clark admitted softly.
Lex said, “I remember you being so frightened after your first time in the suit, and so many other times. But we put you back together, and you became more confident as Superman. Yes, you need your powers back. You need to glow again. You are so much better at this than I am... So discouraged after so little time, what’s that all about? And why couldn’t we articulate all of this last night, Clark?”
“You've been doing a great job, Lex! As for the other thing, we were just too tired, physically and emotionally,” Clark said.
Apparently getting his thoughts back on track, Lex continued, “And I need to be able to do a decent day’s work at LexCorp. Just how do you sneak away when you’re needed elsewhere? So, I’ll take the gun to Diego’s lab. He and his team will get it working again. We need to think who we’ll ask to fire it at us. Then, when we’re both back to normal, I’ll sue this woman for every cent she has.”
God, Lex was so hot when he was on a roll. Clark had to take a deep breath to steady himself.
Then he processed some of Lex’s words. Dr Diego Martinez ran the very covert kryptonite ballistics and armory lab, maintained in case Clark was subjected to magic or mind control, and went rogue. He was the most powerful being on Earth and somehow, he’d have to be taken down. Just who would fire that shot was something Clark refused to think about.
Lex had also mentioned suing Dr Blacksmith. Why did he want to do that? Loads of people hated the Daily Planet. She was just one out of many. “Lex? Why do you want to sue her?” Clark asked.
“Money, Clark,” Lex said. “Her antics have made a big dent in LexCorp’s stock price. Metropolis loves you. The citizens should have confidence in Maggie, Dan and the rest of the police to keep them safe. That’s their job. They shouldn’t need you as well. None of you should be needed, for that matter. But you all make your cities’ people feel safer. And Superman not being out there has made the people jittery. And that’s made investors jittery, which affected the stock price.”
“In less than two weeks?” Clark asked.
“It can happen in a day, Clark. All it takes is one person making a string of bad choices and a company’s stock price can collapse,” Lex said.
“OK, OK! Spare me the lecture!” Clark said, cutting Lex off before he launched into some huge spiel. “I keep you from going bust, do I?” he asked.
“You keep me from so much more than that, Clark,” Lex said, gathering up the plates and getting up from the table. “C’mon, we need to get off to work.” He called for a car to be brought round and fetched the box containing the gun, while Clark washed the plates and left them to drain.
***
The car dropped Clark at the Daily Planet. He kissed Lex goodbye, saying, ”Have fun playing M to Dr Martinez’s Q.”
“Oh, I shall, Clark,” Lex said. “I can’t wait to see Diego’s face when I confront him with the gun. There’ll be a considerable amount of swearing, most probably. Mainly out of jealousy, and regret that he didn’t think of the combination first.”
Despite the subject matter of Lex’s words, Clark smiled. Lex had a plan, now. He was much happier than he’d been last night. Clark kissed Lex again, and left the car. He entered the Daily Planet and took the elevator up to the newsroom. “Morning, Lois, Chloe, Jimmy,” he greeted. “What are we working on today?”
Both girls glared at him.
“Is there something you want to tell me, Clark?” Lois said, clearly giving him no chance to say ‘no’.
Chloe had told him he had to tell Lois. She was right. “I believe there is, Lois. C’mon, let’s go in the conference room,” Clark said. When they were in there, and sat down, Clark made Lois give him her word before he began his story, “My parents, Chloe and Lex also know what I’m about to tell you. You must not breathe a word of this to anyone other than the four of them, Lois. Promise me?”
“I promise, Clark,” she said solemnly.
Satisfied, Clark began: “Once upon a time, there was a little boy from Krypton, who landed on Earth in a small spaceship, and was taken in by Jonathan and Martha Kent...”
***
Remarkably, Lois let him finish his whole story, not interrupting once. And then, like the excellent reporter she was, she fired off the questions. Clark answered them as comprehensively as possible. Then he asked, “Do we have anything else on Dr Blacksmith?”
“Plenty, Clark!” Lois exclaimed, getting up. “Let me show you!”
They left the conference room. Chloe looked up at him, and Clark winked at her and mouthed, “Disaster averted.” Chloe gave him smile and a thumbs-up in response, and went back to looking at photos with Jimmy. While Lois gathered her notes, Clark sat at his desk and wondered how was Lex getting on. Then Lois descended on him and he had no more time to wonder.
***
There had indeed been a lot of swearing. In both Spanish and English.
“Can you and your boys and girls get it going again? I will not tell you why I need this particular weapon to be functional. But I will tell you that you’ll need volunteers to offer to have it fired at them. Just tell me you can do it, Diego,” Lex said, his voice stern.
“You only hire the best, don’t you? Of course we can do it, Lex,” Dr Martinez said. “Or is it M?”
This was a very old joke between them. “Thank you, Q,” Lex said, laughing. He exited the lab, and watched through the window in the door, as Diego called his team to the central table and showed them the gun.
Yes, they could do it. After all, he did only hire the best. The very, very best.
Lex went back up to his office and got on with the rest of his day’s work.
Around 2pm, someone screamed, “Help! UltraMan!”
Lex pulled the cowl and boots from his briefcase, changed and opened the window. Then he was in the air, and off in search of the person who needed his help. He could do this, just for a little while longer.
***
At the weekend, the Warrior Angel and Devilicus costumes arrived, by courier. They didn’t get much more than a passing glance and a phone call of thanks to Martha. Then they were put away until they could be more closely examined, when everything was back to what constituted normal, for them.
The sooner that happened, the better, as far as Clark was concerned. He couldn’t wait to see Lex in the purple, the mask and the wings.
Something he was soon informing Lex of, back in bed, between kisses and caresses.
10 - Renewal
On the Tuesday of his third week with Clark’s powers, Lex was summoned by Bruce Wayne (after playing a tortuous ‘I know you know I know’ game) to help with the victims of a landslide in California. When he arrived home that night, Clark took one look at him, put him in the shower and then put him to bed.
Later, Lex overheard Clark call Bruce and ask him what the hell he thought he was playing at. Clark sounded so mad, and so scared. He’d made the same kind of phone call himself on many occasions, back in the early days. This couldn’t go on much longer. Diego would be receiving a very stern phone call in the morning.
***
Standing in the kitchen, Lex called the lab at 8am the following morning, and with no preamble said, “Diego, it’s Lex. Is that gun working yet?”
”It is, Lex!” Dr Martinez exclaimed. ”It wasn’t too difficult to get it going again. There have been some minor burns, but that was to be expected. Can I keep this one, Lex?”
Lex could just see Diego’s expression, and chuckled to himself. “I’m sorry, Diego, but you can’t. I need it back.” Then Lex had another thought. Would switching the order of pieces of Kryptonite in the gun reverse its effects and help transfer Clark’s powers back to him? “Diego, can you change the sequence of the pieces of Kryptonite, so the laser passes through the redK first, not second? I’ll see you soon, you don’t need to call back. Goodbye.” Hanging up, Lex went to join Clark for breakfast.
“How’s the gun coming along, Lex?” Clark asked, as Lex sat down.
“It’s almost ready, Clark,” Lex said. “You should have your powers back within the next few days.” Lex saw Clark’s eyes light up at that.
“Be sure to thank Dr Martinez when you see him, Lex,” Clark said.
“Oh, I will, Clark. I certainly will,” Lex replied.
***
At 9.30am, Lex left the Kryptonite ballistics and armory lab with a fully functional red and green Kryptonite-powered laser gun. The weapon was ready. But who would fire it at them? Pondering that question, Lex went on to his office.
***
Over lunch in Lex’s office, Clark said, “It’s going to have to be Chloe, Lex. I know she can fire a gun. After the Nicodemus incident and Van McNulty, even though they both happened years ago, I don’t really want to ask Mom or Dad, and you know Lois and superheroes. She also knows her way around a gun, but she couldn’t see past UltraMan. I had to tell her everything else, but I didn’t tell her that particular secret.”
“You had to tell Lois Lane, Clark? I know you were going to, but it still makes me laugh. Well, love is supposed to be blind, and she’s certainly in love with Superman, so how could she see that he’s actually you? Chloe it is, then. Ask her to visit us this evening, and tell her to wear something warm. It’s cold, up in the sky,” Lex said.
“Will do, Lex,” Clark said. He kissed Lex goodbye, and went back to work.
***
That evening, Lex said, “Chloe, Clark has informed me that you are aware of our situation. He also tells me you are an expert markswoman. Can you tell us about that, please?”
Chloe’s eyes lit up. “Lois showed me how to fire an air rifle when I was 12, guys,” she told them. “Uncle Sam caught us, later. I don’t know if he was mad at Lois, or impressed with her. She nearly got grounded for a week, and then she reminded him that he’d taught her when she was 10. So he didn’t really have a leg to stand on, then. Maggie was so happy she didn’t have teach us how to shoot when Lois and I did that week with the Special Crimes Unit a couple of years ago.”
Looking at Lex for encouragement, Clark said, “You know that Kryptonite-powered laser gun you found? Well, it’s working again. We need to you come to the farm and fire it at us, Chloe.” He watched Chloe’s eyes go wide, at the request, but continued, “The shot should transfer my powers back to me. I know this is a lot to ask, but you’re one of the very few people we can ask to do this, so please say yes,” Clark said, pleading with his eyes.
“I never could refuse the puppy dog eyes, Clark. Or the weird and scary. Of course I’ll do it,” Chloe said. “Are we going now?”
“Yes, Chloe,” Lex said, rising from the sofa, grabbing his coat from its back and putting it on. “Clark, could you call your parents, tell them we’re on our way, and inform them of our plan? I’ll just take Chloe outside for a chat about the gun, and a short flight.”
“OK, Lex,” Clark replied. “See you both soon.”
Lex picked up the box with the gun in one arm. “Chloe, can you come out on the balcony? We’ll need to open the box. That will be far enough away from Clark, and it’s our launch site...”
***
Clark watched them leave, and made his call, on the encrypted line. “Hi, Mom. I’m on the secure line, so don’t worry about what I’m going to tell you. Lex, Chloe and I are on our way to you, with the Kryptonite-powered laser weapon. There was no way I could ask either you or Dad to do it, so Chloe’s going to fire it at me and Lex. The shot should give me my powers back.”
”Oh, Clark,” his mom said, with a sigh. ”Please don’t ask me or your dad to watch. I don’t think we could bear to.”
“I know, Mom. I know,” Clark said.
” We’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, Mom. I love you guys. Bye.” Clark hung up, and went to fetch his own coat.
A couple of minutes later, Lex came back inside. “Ready, Clark?” he asked.
“Yes, Lex. Let’s go and be shot at,” Clark said.
“That’s one way to put it, Clark,” Lex said, laughing.
They went out onto the balcony and locked the doors behind them. Lex took Chloe and Clark in his arms and flew off to Smallville. Clark’s parents were standing outside when they arrived, a few minutes later.
Once they’d landed, his dad greeted them. “Clark, I hope this crazy plan of yours works.”
“So do I, Dad,” Clark said. “C’mon, Lex, Chloe.”
They walked over to the barn, and Lex and Chloe walked away from Clark. Clark watched Lex open the box and hand the weapon to Chloe. Lex walked back to Clark, turned around, and stood right in front of him.
“Go, Chloe,” Lex said.
Chloe fired the gun, and Clark saw his parents out of the corner of his eye. His mom had her head on his dad’s shoulder, unable to watch.
The laser beam hit him and Lex. Clark soon felt an incredible amount of energy surging through him, felt his powers returning. It worked! But how was Lex feeling, losing all that power?
***
They weren’t knocked out this time, but Lex felt weak and he knew their “crazy plan” had worked. “Clark? Are you OK?” he asked, turning round.
“Never better, Lex,” Clark said, beaming down at him. “All systems go, but I could do with a solar recharge.”
Lex sighed in relief, and called Chloe, Martha and Jonathan over. Chloe first placed the gun back in the box, and picked it up. Clark ensured them he was OK, and embraced them. Then Lex said, “Shall we go inside? I think Clark needs to find the sun and recharge his batteries. Any pie or cookies available, Martha?”
Martha said, “There’s always pie and cookies, Lex. Jon, you can make us some tea to go with them...”
***
Clark watched them all go inside, and launched himself into the sky. Extending his bioelectric aura, to protect his clothes, he went to the sun, and basked in its warmth and light. The solar energy poured into him. Feeling energised, and so much better, he sped back to Earth.
“That’s better!” Clark said, entering the farmhouse, and joining everyone at the kitchen table. Then he remembered that he’d missed something in his hurry to recharge. “Lex? Are you OK?” he asked.
“I will be, Clark,” Lex said, his eyes narrowing. “However, you look a bit high to me. Sure you didn’t get too much sun?”
“I’m fine, Lex,” Clark said, lightly kissing him. “Are you and Chloe ready to go back to Metropolis?”
“I believe we are, Clark,” Lex said, rising from his chair. “Let me get the box, and we’ll go. Thank you for the hospitality, Martha and Jonathan. See you soon.”
They all went outside, and said their goodbyes. Clark held Lex in one arm and Chloe in the other and once again launched himself into the sky.
Flight. This amazing power was his own buzz, his own high. Thanks to his husband and his friend, he’d got it back. He held them both closer, and flew on.
***
Minutes later, Clark dropped Lex and the gun at the penthouse. He went on to drop Chloe near her building, and hugged her goodbye, thanking her for her help.
And then Clark returned to the penthouse. He landed on the balcony and entered the penthouse, locking the doors behind him. Where was his husband, though? Clark x-rayed their home, and found Lex in the bedroom, already naked. Lex was two steps ahead of him, like he often was.
Clark sped to their bedroom, and stripped off his own clothes. “To tell the truth, Lex, I am a little high. Maybe I did get too much sun,” he said.
Lex said, “We’d better expend some of that energy then, hadn’t we? C’mere, Clark.”
Clark joined Lex on the bed. They exchanged kisses, and then made love more passionately than they had in weeks.
They were back to their version of normal, and they couldn’t be happier.
***
When Clark was asleep, Lex removed the gun from the storage box, and removed both pieces of kryptonite from the gun.
More toys.
The red piece was much larger than the one they already had. Clark was so sexy when they played that game.
Lex smiled wickedly to himself in anticipation.
Epilogue
A few days later, Dr Penelope Blacksmith was arrested on a variety of charges, including violence and stalking. It was discovered that she’d once worked for LexLabs. Lex launched an investigation into how her background had not been thoroughly checked out. He also began the process of suing her. Despite the fact that LexCorp’s stock price had soon recovered, when Superman had returned to duty.
Lex and Clark got back into their usual rhythm, with Lex congratulating Clark on jobs well done, and comforting him after the difficult rescues and the near misses. And Lex now had a frame of reference for just how hard Clark’s second job could be. They needed to have a debrief about the last few weeks...
***
A week after Clark’s powers had been returned to him, sitting on the sofa, they had their conversation.
Lex said, "Clark, whenever someone asks me who the one person I admire most is, I say you. And even though I thought I knew how difficult being you can be, I realized that I didn’t. I learned first hand that the hardest part about being you is all the things you can't do. All the cries for help that you can't answer and how that quietly tears you, and me apart. It never stops you. And after living a little of that myself I realized something--something I never thought was possible. I love you more. More than I ever have.”
“Oh, Lex, I love you, too,” Clark said, pulling him into an embrace.
They just held each other close for a few minutes, and then Lex said, “I think we have some costumes to play with, Clark?”
Lex watched Clark’s eyes begin to glow. “We do, Lex. I really want to see you in, and very swiftly out of, purple spandex and white wings,” Clark said. “C’mon. Bed!”
“Indeed, Clark. I believe superspeed could now be put to good use?” Lex said.
Clark picked Lex up, and whooshed them to the bedroom.
***
And in the bedroom, Clark quickly stripped them both. They dressed themselves in the costumes, and lastly placed the masks over their faces. They then undressed each other, slowly pulling off the boots and masks, removing the wings and peeling off the spandex, exchanging kisses between each item.
Lex as Warrior Angel
Clark as Devilicus
When they were once again naked, Clark had another idea. “Lex, put on the wings back on. And the mask.”
“We’re back to the masks, are we, Clark?” Lex purred. “They do make you so very, very hot, don’t they? Would you like to play with the lead-lined one, later?"
The lead-lined mask...“God, yes, Lex,” Clark said. “But I really want to play with the wings and your own mask right now,” he growled.
Handing Clark the mask, and presenting him with the back of his head, Lex said, “Fasten the strap, Clark, and then get on the bed.”
Clark did as asked, and watched as Lex slipped the wings back on. Lex then climbed onto the bed himself, and straddled Clark’s body. Clark had to fight to control his heat vision, he was so turned on by the sight of Lex. They then began kissing and caressing each other. Soon, the bedroom was full of the sounds of lovemaking.
Asking his mom to make these costumes had been such a wonderful idea. And there was the lead-lined mask to look forward to. Clark purred in anticipation.
-end-
French line - “Adèle, les ailes sont très belles. Je les voudrais aussi, s’il vous plaît.” - “Adèle, the wings are very beautiful. I would like them as well, please.”