for Saavi! =D
Title: So Close
Characters: Lex Luthor, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle
Rating: PG
Word Count: 790
Disclaimer: DC Comics owns.
AN: for saavikam77! Prompt- cats eyes. This year I will be earlier, dammit! I hope to anyway! ;)
Luthor was 99.3% certain that Clark Kent was Superman. If he had been a lesser man, he would have been one-hundred percent, absolutely certain. As it was, he needed irrefutable proof, which is why he switched one of the Cats Eyes Emeralds with a kryptonite replica. The moment the lead shielding would be removed revealing the stones, Kent would go down. No one but Lex would know why the Planet reporter suddenly fell ill and Lex would have begun the defeat of Superman without his even knowing.
Five minutes before the unveiling, Luthor took one last look at the circle forming around the Cats Eyes. Kent stood directly across from him and predictably, next to Ms. Lane. Many of Metropolis' elite stood to her right. Bruce Wayne and a striking brunette had just joined the group. The woman wiped away smudged lipstick off the side of his mouth. Bruce whispered something in the woman's ear that had her laughing, but not before she whacked him with her black clutch purse on top of his head. Luthor looked away not wanting to bother himself with Wayne's idiocies. Time was Lex would have stolen the woman way just to remind Old Brucie he could. But that was back when Lex gave undue importance to men who mattered little, if at all.
"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer began, "On loan from Mr. Luthor himself, we are proud to present the exquisite Cats Eyes Emeralds!"
The audience shuffled closer in growing excitement. As the lead-lined cover began to rise, Luthor's gaze was glued to Clark. Lex savored the anticipation like most would the finest wine. Then, the lights went out expectantly and people screamed as though they'd never been in a darkened room before.
"Get the lights!" Lex ordered. Mere moments later, flash lights illuminated the room, blinding many guests in the process. Within seconds after that, the lights overhead were back on as well.
Lex scanned the room, his sharp eyes missing nothing. Everyone was where they'd been before the lights went out. Some looking startled, others pretending not to be. Only Wayne and the woman with him had taken advantage of the dark and were still deeply engrossed in a heated, almost obscene, embrace. But more importantly, Clark Kent stood in his same spot, awaiting discovery.
"I am afraid I can't explain what happened, Mr. Luther," someone apologized, but Lex didn't want to hear inane excuses.
"Just get on with it!" he barked.
"Yes, sir, of course."
Soon the announcer stepped forward again. "Without further ado, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Cats Eyes Emeralds!"
The lead cover was completely removed and Lex waited with barely subdued glee for Clark's reaction. But, it never came. Kent smiled brightly and admired the Emeralds like everyone else. Lex's hands turned to fists at his side. He had been so sure...
"Wow, those are pretty," Clark whispered to Lois. The Emeralds were flawless.
"Quit drooling, Smallville, you're supposed to observe everyone else's reaction."
Clark looked at her. "But I'm not here for Perry, Lois."
"Jimmy, how many pictures do you need of Wayne's tongue down that woman's throat?" Lois turned to Clark next. "What? Then why are you here?"
Clark smiled, "I was invited. There was an invitation and everything."
The momentary confusion evaporated and Lex was left glowering. Realizing what must have happened, he forgot all about the damn Emeralds and left the event. The security team would be dealt with and he, himself, would go over the security footage.
...
A few rooftops away from the Metropolis Museum of Art, two dark figures hid in the shadows.
"Thank you," Batman said, taking the small clutch purse housing the kryptonite replica. "I wasn't sure 'O' gave you enough time for the switch."
"What do you mean, 'Thank you'?" Catwoman arched an eyebrow, choosing to ignore what sounded like his doubting of her abilities. "You owe me." Superman landed silently on the roof a few feet away. Catwoman turned to him. "And by the looks of it, you owe me, too."
"Oh, um," Superman cleared his throat, "Yes, of course."
Catwoman whispered something in Batman's ear that nearly made Clark blush and wish he didn't have superhearing. Then, she moved to the ledge, winked at Clark, blew a kiss at Bruce, and jumped off.
Superman approached the dark end of the rooftop. "Thank you, Bruce," he said, his smile warm and genuine.
"I'll hold on to this," Batman replied, holding up the clutch purse.
Clark was going to mention that Bruce must have quite a kryptonite collection by now, but he heard something that made him grateful again for his superhearing.
"Trouble in New Zealand," he explained, then turned back to his friend once more before leaving. "Thanks again," he smiled and was off.
Characters: Lex Luthor, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle
Rating: PG
Word Count: 790
Disclaimer: DC Comics owns.
AN: for saavikam77! Prompt- cats eyes. This year I will be earlier, dammit! I hope to anyway! ;)
Luthor was 99.3% certain that Clark Kent was Superman. If he had been a lesser man, he would have been one-hundred percent, absolutely certain. As it was, he needed irrefutable proof, which is why he switched one of the Cats Eyes Emeralds with a kryptonite replica. The moment the lead shielding would be removed revealing the stones, Kent would go down. No one but Lex would know why the Planet reporter suddenly fell ill and Lex would have begun the defeat of Superman without his even knowing.
Five minutes before the unveiling, Luthor took one last look at the circle forming around the Cats Eyes. Kent stood directly across from him and predictably, next to Ms. Lane. Many of Metropolis' elite stood to her right. Bruce Wayne and a striking brunette had just joined the group. The woman wiped away smudged lipstick off the side of his mouth. Bruce whispered something in the woman's ear that had her laughing, but not before she whacked him with her black clutch purse on top of his head. Luthor looked away not wanting to bother himself with Wayne's idiocies. Time was Lex would have stolen the woman way just to remind Old Brucie he could. But that was back when Lex gave undue importance to men who mattered little, if at all.
"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer began, "On loan from Mr. Luthor himself, we are proud to present the exquisite Cats Eyes Emeralds!"
The audience shuffled closer in growing excitement. As the lead-lined cover began to rise, Luthor's gaze was glued to Clark. Lex savored the anticipation like most would the finest wine. Then, the lights went out expectantly and people screamed as though they'd never been in a darkened room before.
"Get the lights!" Lex ordered. Mere moments later, flash lights illuminated the room, blinding many guests in the process. Within seconds after that, the lights overhead were back on as well.
Lex scanned the room, his sharp eyes missing nothing. Everyone was where they'd been before the lights went out. Some looking startled, others pretending not to be. Only Wayne and the woman with him had taken advantage of the dark and were still deeply engrossed in a heated, almost obscene, embrace. But more importantly, Clark Kent stood in his same spot, awaiting discovery.
"I am afraid I can't explain what happened, Mr. Luther," someone apologized, but Lex didn't want to hear inane excuses.
"Just get on with it!" he barked.
"Yes, sir, of course."
Soon the announcer stepped forward again. "Without further ado, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Cats Eyes Emeralds!"
The lead cover was completely removed and Lex waited with barely subdued glee for Clark's reaction. But, it never came. Kent smiled brightly and admired the Emeralds like everyone else. Lex's hands turned to fists at his side. He had been so sure...
"Wow, those are pretty," Clark whispered to Lois. The Emeralds were flawless.
"Quit drooling, Smallville, you're supposed to observe everyone else's reaction."
Clark looked at her. "But I'm not here for Perry, Lois."
"Jimmy, how many pictures do you need of Wayne's tongue down that woman's throat?" Lois turned to Clark next. "What? Then why are you here?"
Clark smiled, "I was invited. There was an invitation and everything."
The momentary confusion evaporated and Lex was left glowering. Realizing what must have happened, he forgot all about the damn Emeralds and left the event. The security team would be dealt with and he, himself, would go over the security footage.
...
A few rooftops away from the Metropolis Museum of Art, two dark figures hid in the shadows.
"Thank you," Batman said, taking the small clutch purse housing the kryptonite replica. "I wasn't sure 'O' gave you enough time for the switch."
"What do you mean, 'Thank you'?" Catwoman arched an eyebrow, choosing to ignore what sounded like his doubting of her abilities. "You owe me." Superman landed silently on the roof a few feet away. Catwoman turned to him. "And by the looks of it, you owe me, too."
"Oh, um," Superman cleared his throat, "Yes, of course."
Catwoman whispered something in Batman's ear that nearly made Clark blush and wish he didn't have superhearing. Then, she moved to the ledge, winked at Clark, blew a kiss at Bruce, and jumped off.
Superman approached the dark end of the rooftop. "Thank you, Bruce," he said, his smile warm and genuine.
"I'll hold on to this," Batman replied, holding up the clutch purse.
Clark was going to mention that Bruce must have quite a kryptonite collection by now, but he heard something that made him grateful again for his superhearing.
"Trouble in New Zealand," he explained, then turned back to his friend once more before leaving. "Thanks again," he smiled and was off.