scribblinlenore: (SV: Lex Fear)
scribblinlenore ([personal profile] scribblinlenore) wrote2006-09-06 05:50 pm
Entry tags:

Five Ways Clark Surprised Lex

For [livejournal.com profile] entrenous88



Five Ways Clark Surprised Lex

1. On Lex's first birthday in Smallville, Clark shows up at the mansion with a clumsily wrapped package and an eager smile. "You didn't have to," Lex says. And what he means is: I wasn't expecting anything. His father believes in rewards, not gifts, and Lex hasn't had an honest-to-God birthday present since his mother died.

"I wanted to," Clark insists. "Well? Aren't you going to open it?"

Clark's pleased blush, his bright-eyed anticipation are really all Lex could ever ask for, but he makes a big production out of the gift, carefully undoing the homemade gift paper, taking it apart at the Scotch taped seams to keep from ripping it.

When he finally has it open, all he can do is stare.

"It's just something I made," Clark says in a rush, misinterpreting Lex's silence. "You're into abstract art and stuff. I thought you might, you know, think it was interesting." He trails off feebly, his happy light dimming.

"Interesting" does not begin to cover it. Lex turns the object over in his hands. There's steel and strands of copper wire, bits of brightly colored glass, pebbles from the river, all twisted and fused together. In places, there are marks, in the shape of fingers, not tools, the handiwork of a pair of impossible hands, and Clark has to know that Lex will see it, that he'll know.

He looks up, suspiciously bright-eyed now himself, he suspects, and the worry goes out of Clark, his smiles returns, only softer now.

"I wanted to give you something you didn't have."

Lex nods, and the tightness in his throat makes his thank you come out raspy, "It's the nicest thing anybody will ever do for me."


2. The day after Lex kisses Clark for the first time, he debates all morning whether he should pick Clark up at school or actually have some dignity, yes, no, yes, no, a daisy chain of indecision among the conference calls and spreadsheets. It's only when he's in the car, doing 110 on the way to Smallville High, that he finally admits he might be a little too invested in this whole thing.

He parks and gets out, lounges against the silver hood while he waits, but when Clark comes streaming out at the final bell, he only pauses, doesn't stop. "I'm catching a ride with Pete." It's not wholly unexpected--the kiss had been followed by a stammered excuse and violent blushes--but the fact that Clark doesn't look back, not even once, that's painfully eye-opening.


3. Front page story in the Daily Planet, "Superman Bids Earth Goodbye"

4. The first time Clark hits him. Oh, sure. Lex was pushing his buttons, hard and with finesse, slipping in a little innuendo about Lana, things he might or might not have done to her. It wasn't wholly unjustified, he freely admits. Still. Call him a romantic, but he's always liked to think that heroes were just a little bit better than that.

5. Every time Clark saves him from himself. He keeps expecting him to just give up one day. He keeps being surprised when Clark never does..

[identity profile] onelittlesleep.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
How did you do that? I don't even invest in these characters anymore, and yet you so deftly unlocked something in me and...it just feels so...raw.

ouch.

It's not even angsty...It's not even obvious. Somehow the 5-set all together is like the key. And it's a perfect turn. It's fantastic, because I don't even know why I ache now...

Lovely. I really adore your work. Time and again. It never gets old. I'll always go back.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwwwww! Thank you for this. I've got to tell you, though, it surprised me that I still had so much feeling for Lex and Clark when I started to think about this questions. Because I don't invest in them anymore either. But their great epic potential...it just never really goes away.

[identity profile] bitchygrrl.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
They are all good but 5 is brilliant

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I need to believe that #5 is the absolute truth about their relationship in the future. *clings*

(no subject)

[identity profile] bitchygrrl.livejournal.com - 2006-09-10 20:00 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] corinna-5.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Gah!

Sniffle.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
What made me sad to realize was that a year or so ago, I would have answered this question with all porn. It's hard for me to imagine that anymore!

[identity profile] herohunter.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
You suck. In a very wonderful way.
*sniffles as she walks away*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:03 pm (UTC)(link)
You suck. In a very wonderful way.

I'm going to have this made into a sash! :)

[identity profile] carolandtom.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you've written SV again!

Great job!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
ext_1770: @ _jems_ (Default)

[identity profile] oxoniensis.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, Lenore, they just broke me!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
This is really why I can't write SV anymore. They make me so sad!

[identity profile] ladydey.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I love #1. Oh, if Clark had only... Things might have been different for a little longer.

#2 made me sad - poor Lex. Some times Clark is just not worth it *hugs*

#3 - Clark needs to stop letting Lex read things in the newspaper instead of telling Lex to his face.

#4, OH Lex!

#5 - Clark loves in his own way Lex...

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I really do think that if Clark had ever told Lex the truth he would have done in some wordless way like in #1. I really do think it might have made things different. *sighs*

Glad you enjoyed this!
ext_11942: (Default)

[identity profile] goss.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
AWWWWWW! *loves*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs you* I'm glad you enjoyed it, doll!
astolat: lady of shalott weaving in black and white (Default)

[personal profile] astolat 2006-09-06 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
meeeeeep. *sniffle*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:07 pm (UTC)(link)
That's pretty much the reaction I have to Clark and Lex these days! *g*

[identity profile] feliz581.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
Aww - it started with birthday surprises! And then was all sniffle-y at the end!

Excellent as usual!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you enjoyed it! I haven't been thinking that much about SV lately, so I was surprised at how it got to me when I started thinking about this question. I guess they just never stop being epic!
ext_6368: cherry blossoms on a tree -- with my fandom name "EntreNous" on it (Default)

[identity profile] entrenous88.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! This is just excellent. I loved this line:

whether he should pick Clark up at school or actually have some dignity, yes, no, yes, no, a daisy chain of indecision among the conference calls and spreadsheets.
It's such a nice contrast of Clark in his more natural, innocent-farmboy persona, the daisy chain, contrasted to Lex's day-to-day of business grind. And when Lex tries to blend them together, everything seems to go downhill.

Then the twist at the end, that Clark never does give up on Lex -- that's so startling, truly, and really effective as the biggest surprise of all.

Very fine work!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the great prompt! Glad you liked this. I think the truest thing about them is that it can never work out, but it can never be over, either.
ext_1175: (Default)

[identity profile] lamardeuse.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Wow. Yeah. Exactly.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you thought so!

[identity profile] tamalinn.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
*sniffles* wow. it's like you gave me a birthday present. thank you.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
*puts a bow around it for you*

I'm so glad you liked it, doll!

[identity profile] norwich36.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
These were hurty but wonderful. Except #1 and 5, I mean. Those were just wonderful.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Clark and Lex are hurty to me these days. But I do still believe that it will never be over between them. So I guess that means there's always hope, huh?

[identity profile] bop-radar.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Ach!!! *wibbles* That was so ouchily good!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you thought this worked! Sadly, I've gone beyond my ability to believe in happily ever after for them.

[identity profile] thistle90.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
Wow. From old school season 1 through...ow. Wonderful and hurty.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I guess it kind of traces the arc of my fangirlyness, from innocent "they're meant to be" to not so innocent "it will never be over between them."

I feel so old and jaded now!

[identity profile] barely-bean.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
Omg. I love how we get 1, which is like, OMG remember when I loved them, and then 2, which just made me *whimper* and then 4, which made my heart break, and then 5, which reminds me of how they're actually always supposed to be.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I told someone else in the comments that I think this traces the arc of my fangirlyness, from "OMG they're meant to be" to "this will never be over between them."

[identity profile] shattered.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
There's something so wonderfully found and remembered about this. Like it's been tucked away in an attic or a wooden chest or something.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's so cool that you had that reaction to it. I like that idea.

[identity profile] kkpixie.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
*bites lip* *sniffs* So much love, it hurts.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Clark and Lex are all hurty to me these days, and this is what comes out when I try to write them.
ext_7408: (Default)

[identity profile] yavannauk.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Ow! Awww... Yep, think that about sums it up!! *g*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! Then my work here is done!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
*pets you* This is really why I don't write SV anymore. They make me so sad!

[identity profile] amandajane5.livejournal.com 2006-09-07 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
*sniffle* My boys!

These are lovely!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you enjoyed it, doll!
aurora: (Default)

[personal profile] aurora 2006-09-07 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Eeep, number 2.

These are brilliant (and I'm not even in the SV fandom).

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh! *hugs you* Thanks for reading this even though you're not in the fandom. I'm so glad you liked it!
ender24: (Default)

[personal profile] ender24 2006-09-07 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs my boys*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
They definitely *need* a hug these days!

[identity profile] hey-miss-missy.livejournal.com 2006-09-08 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, #2 is so sad.

*weeps over old school SV*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2006-09-10 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I never wrote a story like #2 back in the day, but I really, really should have. I was just such a romantic about them then!

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