Chapter Text
Clark didn’t know what he was looking at. Luthor had told him to shut up and he begrudgingly listened after realising he really did have nothing good to contribute to the process of watching Luthor click away at a keyboard. It was the one Lex was always glued to when he worked. Usually while dual wielding a phone and talking business as Clark sat nearby reading a book or simply dozing.
After their spat, Clark had led Luthor to Lex’s computer, and typed in the password for him. Clark might’ve spied on Lex’s hands more than enough to remember the password. Luthor immediately swept across the room and began typing away, a crease in his brow as he made a face at the interface.
“This is like typing on a child’s toy, it’s so dreadfully outdated.” Luthor’s nose scrunched as he continued to furiously type into the computer.
“All of Lex’s tech is state of the art.” Clark said with a frown. Luthor snorted.
“Well you’re one to judge.” Clark’s frown deepened.
“What does that mean.” Clark sounded like he was giving Luthor a warning. He shrugged, and Clark could see the corner of his mouth twitch.
“I’m saying that you’re stupid, it can’t be that hard to figure out. But maybe you’re dimmer than it seems.” Clark stared at him with an unimpressed look. If Luthor took notice he didn’t do anything to indicate it. Clark sighed, and propped himself up by his elbows on the table to take a closer look. Luthor was clicking through what seemed like an infinite pages of emails to Lex, all of various subjects. Clark squinted at the sight. So many were unopened and unread from the past day Lex had been missing.
“Your friend has a lot of connections with specialists and shady dealings. I guess he’s not the martyr you paint him out to be.” Luthor said with a smile. Luthor quickly moved the mouse and opened a few windows, numbers, emails and locations popping on the screen. He gestured at the screen with a grin. “He’s got similar connections I did back in my universe, he even owns the same shell company. Everything I dig through on this computer makes me like him more and more.”
Clark let out a frustrated noise and threaded his fingers together. “Get to the point.”
Luthor rolled his eyes and pointed at an address on the screen. “There’s various underground, definitely illegal manufacturers for technology here on his computer. It was hidden under some encryption, but I got through them.” His voice was dreadfully smug. “It seems your Lex was extremely interested in biochemical engineering and the technology needed for that field. Not particularly useful right now, but nice to know I’m not a complete failure here.”
Clark bristled at his words. Luthor continued, unpeturbed. “Says here there’s also a lab under the shell company I mentioned earlier- Cadmus labs. Which is very fascinating.”
Clark’s fist tightened. He’d always known Lex was part of the shadier world of business, but it was hard to believe with how open he seemed with Clark. The brewing tension of the past few weeks with him were negligent in comparison to the strength of character Lex seemed to possess, but it was clear he had more to learn about his friend. If Lex would still call him that after letting his evil doppelganger rummage through his home. “What, you wanna go to Cadmus?”
Luthor shrugged. “Hypothetically if Cadmus is what it was in my universe, it wouldn’t be the most useful target. I’m going to navigate creating deals with some of the manufacturer’s first before going to such a desperate last resort.”
Clark’s brows furrowed. “What could be so bad about it? It’s just a shell company.”
Luthor’s fingers paused for a moment, clearly debating whether it was worth it to tell Clark the truth. “It’s none of your concern.”
Another moment passed, and Luthor awkwardly pet Clark’s arm. Clark stared at him bewildered, and he pulled back so fast it was as if he was burned. “Don’t worry about it.” And he turned back to the computer.
Clark made a face at the back of his head.
What a weirdo. Clark seldom used that word for people, as a believer of not judging absolute by its cover even if he failed at him half the time, but Luthor was a nut. A small part of Clark whispered to get to know the man, pick apart the pieces of him that make him Lex if he really was Lex. And Clark begrudgingly had to admit the man and Lex shared a few similarities. Mostly the undeniable ingenuity of human spirit thing Lex has going on- he could do anything he set his mind to even if he confided in Clark occassionally. This Lex definitely had the same drive, it was rare to find people in Smallville with the same aptitude to work themself to the bone if it wasn’t on a farm. With the same obsessive insistence on working, though this Lex’s need to work was a lot more justified considering he was literally displaced in time and space.
Clark scratched the back of his neck. Okay, maybe he was jumping the shark with how similar Lex and this man was. Just, the idea of Lex being as bitter and selfish as the man before him. It was frightening. Lex had his oddities from here to there, but to see what was potentially his best friend reduced to almost madness in the face of a beast he couldn’t wrangle was scary. He didn’t recognise the man before him. Clark didn’t wanna envision a world where he couldn’t recognise Lex.
Luthor made a face at the screen, and Clark couldn’t help but be curious.
“What is it?” Luthor’s frown deepened as he rolled his eyes.
“My father. Various emails shared between Luthorcorp and Lexcorp, with scathing undertones. I’m surprised your Lex maintains such a cordial relationship with him.” Clark grimaced.
“That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Luthor barked out a laugh, as he pushed himself away from the desk. “Really now? Enlighten me, Kent.”
Clark wasn’t miffed by the new moniker, and only shrugged. “Lionel’s an interesting man is all I can say. You’d know better, he’s your dad.”
Luthor shook his head as he powered off the computer. “This man isn’t my father, mine is six feet under. And from a little internet sleuthing, it’s clear he doesn’t look like my flesh and blood either.”
“Oh. Well…” Clark’s jaw set at the thought of Lionel. The specific instance when Clark has found Lex tearing his home apart out of sheer paranoia and manic panic at the concept of his father planting bugs in his home- and that fear turning out to be true. It filled Clark with a sickly nausea. To know men like Lionel existed, despite his own father’s many flaws, Clark knew he loved him with his whole being. He couldn’t be so sure about Lionel’s feelings towards his own son. Maybe he did love him in a twisted way, but whatever familial presence he had for Lex was negligible. Clark wasn’t dense. He noticed whenever Lex would pander to his father in hopes that Jon would do something other than sneer at him. To think Lionel placed Lex in that position. Ugh. “He’s a major dickhead is all.”
Luthor hummed. “And so he isn’t too dissimilar to my own father. He must be particularly bad to make a farm boy like you swear.”
Clark’s lips thinned at the small jab as Luthor simply strode away from Lex’s desk, looking all the part of billionaire business mogul he claimed to be. Maybe the plaid and jeans ruined the fantasy a little, but with how he carried himself, Clark hated to admit it but the man exuded wealth. Lex had a similar sense for a while before he truly settled into Smallville, but it was the same faux nonchalance, the same posturing to look bigger and same downward glance. Obviously trained since birth to act such ways.
Clark watched wordlessly as Luthor slunk outside, brows furrowed. He wasn’t really useful in this situation at all. Clark would have to trust and rely on Luthor to not lead him astray. The sinking feeling falling over him told him he couldn’t.
Irritated, Clark pulled out his phone. Familiar names blinked on the flip phone as he clicked down the column of numbers. A small amount of comfort filled him as his phone rang next to his ear.
“Clark?”
“Chloe.” Clark’s relief was palpable. He could hear crackly shuffling on the other side as Chloe adjusted her phone.
“What’s up? You never call, at least now now.” Her voice was a little strained. Clark could make out voices in the background, and small platitudes Chloe said. He could envision her bright smile so perfectly clear.
“Are you busy? I’ll just call back later-“
“No, no, it’s fine Clark.” Chloe’s voice was a little more echoey now, prior voices gone. Clark smiled, and slumped into Lex’s office chair. “Just spit out wherever you’re dying to say to big shot Chloe Sullivan.”
Pride was evident in her voice, and Clark laughed. “Big shot Daily Planet Chloe too big for little ol’ Kent now?”
“Nah, you know I’d never forget my roots. Now spill, I know you got something. You don’t call me for no reason.” Clark rolled his eyes. Him and Chloe have called semi regularly since she’d left for her internship, and if they happened to be about the monster of the week it wasn’t Clark’s fault! He was a magnet for trouble, and Chloe ate up every story.
Clark adjusted the phone in his grip, and eyed the turned off computer. “Well, it’s wall of weird material-“
“Again? C’mon, you could just tell me on Sunday.” Chloe seemed almost disappointed. Clark could see her scrunched up face clear. “I’m not even there for the action, there’s no one to report on it for the Talon...”
“It’s different, way past wall of weird material, trust me.”
“Just spit it out already, Kent!” Clearly the time she had hiding in whatever closet she was in was running out.
“I found a man in the field the other day. He says he’s Lex from an alternate dimension, and that’s why Lex has been missing for the past few days.” Clark’s voice was conspicuous, though worry was evident at the end. Chloe’s end was silent as she processed his words. Clark squeezed his eyes tight and continued. “He’s going to help me get Lex back but I don’t know- what if this is another Tina Greer situation?”
“Well… does he look like Lex?” Clark scoffed at the question, and he slouched back into the leather chair.
“Nothing like him. He’s my height, has hair, a completely different face… to be honest I’m the most hung up over the hair.”
“Then how do you know if he’s even telling the truth? Clark…” Chloe’s curiosity was palpable. Clark ran a hand through his hair.
“I don’t know.” He was growing frustrated. Chloe became quiet, sensing Clark’s ire. Her patience for Clark’s flippant attitude had shortened over the years, especially with her crush simmering. She knew when a battle was lost.
“Well… just stay safe Clark, you don't know what he could do to you.”
Before Clark could respond, the sound of helicopter blades pierced the air. He shot up at the harsh sound, and stumbled out of the chair. He pressed the phone closer to his mouth.
“I’m sorry Chloe, gotta go- he’s doing something, I-“
Chloe’s worried voice crackled over the call as Clark snapped the phone shut. His world became a blur as he sped down the hall and out the door, leaving it swinging. The moody darkness of Lex’s mansion gave way to bright lights glaring in his face. Clark raised his arms to cover his eyes, and stiffened at the sight of Luthor in front of him. His clothes were whipping in the wind, still perfectly poised.
Clark lowered his arm as the lights turned away from him, helicopter landing with a loud thud as the blades began to slow. Clark could only feel anger and hurt bubble up inside him at the sight. Luthor didn’t even spare a glance as he made his way to the helicopter, private pilot already situated in the seat.
“Luthor- you-“ Clark shouted as he stomped up to the man. Luthor turned his head, ever so slightly, to look at Clark. His face was blank.
“What, Kent?” His voice was clipped, professional, distant. Clark only sputtered with his hands floundering before they settled for pointing at the helicopter.
“You didn’t clear this with me!” Luthor rolled his eyes.
“Who said I had to?” Clark stared at him, jaw dropped.
“Common decency? I helped you, a lot, even though you’re an ass by the way.” Clark was pissed. “We’re you even gonna help me find Lex? Or were you going to run off the first moment you had the funds?”
Luthor bristled at his words, and finally fully turned to glare at him. Clark stepped even closer, now so close he was looking down at Luthor. It wasn’t much, but obviously the other wasn’t used to it. They were basically chest to chest, and if Clark weren’t so riled up he’d be blushing to hell.
“What a deplorable opinion you must have of me, Kent.” Luthor spat out his last name. “For your information, which I don’t owe you any, I’m going to go check out some of Lexcorp and talk to some experts instead of sitting on my ass and expecting someone to save me.”
He adjusted the cardigan he had on with a sour look. “And I’m planning on getting some tailored clothing so I don’t look like I buy everything from Burberry.”
Clark opened and shut his mouth. The nerve.
Luthor continued his way to the helicopter with a small smirk. “Don’t worry, I’ll save your precious Lex Luthor. I just don’t want dead weight with me when I do.”
Just before Luthor could step into the helicopter, he stopped at the steps leading up into the vehicle. Clark’s heart dropped at the sight.
Lex- Luthor’s stricken face at the sight of Lionel standing in his way.
His cane was stuck out, keeping Luthor down, and face curled up in a familiar sneer. He didn’t even bother to x-ray the helicopter- blinded by the sheer indignation at Luthor’s departure.
Lionel was as aloof as he always was, hair curled and almost impassive with the opaque glasses he had on. “Lex? Is that you?”
Clark watched as Luthor’s eyes darted from the cane up to Lionel’s face, his mouth pursed as he calculated what to do. The look on his face was so similar to Lex he had to do a triple take.
Luthor’s face cracked into a displeased look, and he eased back, quiet, as Lionel continued. The older man stepped down the steps, slightly shaky, and cane still on Luthor’s chest.
“Lex, I really expect more from you. I don’t hear from you for days and one of my staff tells me you’re trying to meet with some Lexcorp contracted employees?” He tsked as he continued to step down, Luthor moving backwards with the motion of the cane. “Honestly, I’m insulted you thought I wouldn’t notice.”
“I…” Luthor seemed at a loss for words. Lionel immediately paused.
“Lex. You sound different.” Lionel’s voice was tight. Before Luthor could respond, Clark hurried forward to pull Luthor back with a sheepish laugh.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Luthor, Lex has been sick the past few days and I’ve just been helping him recover.” Clark lightly pushed Luthor away to curl his hands under Lionel’s arms. He helped him down as he continued. “I’m sorry if we distracted you from the company. I’m sure Lex was just doing some work under my nose and got something wrong in the fever of it all.”
Lionel was quiet as Clark helped him down, before he pet Clark on his arm. “There there, boy, I’m blind not wheelchair bound. I can move around on my own. Though I do miss your mother's presence.” Clark grew tense at the casual mention, layers of feelings rising at the reminder of what had happened. Lionel simply moved on. “She raised a good boy. Makes you think, Lex. At least he’s better than Helen.”
Lionel lightheartedly chuckled, and Clark’s face grew dark. Luthor watched him with an impassive face from a distance. His eyes darted between Clark and the helicopter, and Clark furiously shook his head at him.
“Helen was always so rude. Though both of you are stubborn.” Lionel pinched Clark’s arm lightly. He couldn’t feel it. “Lead me to the mansion, boy. I need a lie down and a cold drink.”
Clark couldn’t do anything other than gently lead the man that ruined his best friend to his now empty home. He could feel Luthor’s gaze pierce the back of his head, still stationed by the helicopter as if he were carved from ice.