#lois queen

At least the mansion hadn’t changed much in his absence. With everyone in Metropolis after him, he hadn’t known what to expect.

“Tell the staff I’m not to be disturbed," Clark hardly got the words out before he sank into his office chair, "I’ve had a long day.”

“Yes Mr. Luthor.”

A deep sigh had only just managed to escape him before he heard familliar footsteps coming down the hall. Soon enough Tess rounded the corner into his study. Clark wouldn’t usually mind the distraction, but he wasn’t in the mood.

“Not now Tess.”

“So much for a warm welcome.” She smiled to herself. He didn’t respond.

“Oh come on,” she stalked up to his desk, dragging her finger along the edge of the old wood as she made her way around to his back, “Aren’t you happy to see me? I know you weren’t gone as long as you would’ve liked but I still want to hear about how it went.” 

She began rubbing his shoulders, “Maybe I can help take a load off?”

As her hands snaked around his shoulders Clark Luthor felt his skin crawl.

It surprised him.

Not the annoyance, that was normal. But the intensity of it, like his whole body was rejecting the encounter. He removed her hands and turned his chair to face her.

“Tess,” he held her hands and looked up at her, “I said-” His features darkened, “Not now.” 

The look in his eyes was one Tess knew well, it said not to push any further. She knew better than to test him.

“Fine, when you’re done sulking I’ll be waiting.” With that final word Tess left him to his own devices, sitting in the empty comfort of his study.

Alone at last.

~~~

The words rang in her ears.

“I couldn’t live in a world where you don’t love me.”

How dare he? How dare Clark Kent profess his love and then disappear. 

It was cruel. 

Getting a taste of someone so kind, so righteous, only to be left behind with a version of him that just didn’t live up. How dare Clark Luthor squander all his potential in favor of his own selfish desires. Lois couldn’t stand it.

And she wasn’t just going to sit around and mope about it.

~~~

“Clark!” Lois called. “Clark Luthor, I know you can hear me!”

Luthor mansion was huge. Like a maze, the entire building felt as if it was designed to dissorient anyone who stepped foot inside. It was probably intentional.

Moving deeper into the mansion, Lois made it all the way to his study before she found her target. Sitting patiently, not a care in the world. Typical.

“Lois Lane, what a surprise.” He calmly stood to greet her, flashing a charming smile, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Clark hadn’t been expecting guests any time soon. It’d only been a week since his return from the mirror world, he wanted to take time to plan his next moves. Not to mention he wasn’t exactly popular at the moment. So Lois' arrival truely was a surprise, but perhaps not a pleasure.

“It’s Lois Queen actually,” She raised an eyebrow at him, “remember?”

He hardly acknowledged her but his smile faltered. Of course he remembered, how could he forget one of the most irritating unions he’d ever heard of. His school yard rival and his unruly staff member.

“I just wanted to see for myself if the rumors were true. That Clark Luthor was back.”

“Don’t sound so excited.” He rounded his desk and made his way over to her, taking care to leave some distance between them.

She took the opportunity to really look at him, studying his features as if to commit them to memory. 

They were exactly the same. 

Hair, body, face, eyes. Not a single discernable difference between Kent and Luthor. It was uncanny.

“He looks just like you.” She squinted in concentration, “why did I have to get stuck with the cruel one.”

Clark didn’t respond, steeling his expression. It wasn’t untrue. Still, for some reason the way she said it stung. So casual. As if she was talking about the wallpaper. He shrugged it off. Why should he care about the opinions of a plucky reporter?

Lois concluded her mental assessment of his features before continuing.

“You could do so much good. Your money… Your abilities! All of it could help so many people.” She sighed in frustration, “You could’ve been a hero.”

Lois looked deep into his eyes, imploring him to listen to her. “You still could if you really wanted to.”

Clark didn’t understand. Why was she doing this? Comparing him to a shaky reflection that could only exist in another universe. One who wasn’t raised by Lionel Luthor. The naivete was pitiful. Maybe he should remind her who she was dealing with. An irredeemable soul.

To Lois’ surprise his eyes softened, eyebrows knitting together in a pleading look.

“You’re right Miss Lane.” Clark paused and peered at his guest, gauging her reacion, “It was hard you know. Growing up a Luthor. Living under my fathers tyranny. Any sign of weakness, any emotion, anything less than perfection, was destroyed.” 

Clark bowed his head, “I wish it was different. I wish I was different.” He took a step forward as he spoke, “That’s why I came back. I wanted to change for the better, I can’t go on like this.” 

He slowly made his way towards Lois, closing the gap between them, allowing himself a brief glance into her eyes before tearing his gaze away again. Gently grabbing her hands he continued, “I know there’s nothing I can do to make up for all the awful things I’ve done, but… I wanted to try anyway.”

Keeping his eyes down, he leaned in impossibly close, chipping away at what little space there was left between them until their faces were nearly touching. Lois wanted to back away but her shock froze her in place and she studied his features as he made his speech.

“I just… need someone to help me,” he looked at her with heavy lidded eyes, his expression begging. Lois only looked back in confusion.

“I need someone who believes that I, Clark Luthor, can do good.” He sighed, deep and weary, “I need you, Lois.” 

He brought the hand he was holding to his face, silently urging her to caress his cheek, “Please?” 

Hesitantly, Lois obliged, gently soothing him as he settled his hands on her hips. It was sad, really. That the only thing separating Clark Kent from Clark Luthor was a loving home. How much of a difference it makes growing up with that type of support. Lois began to understand the circumstances that make something like Clark Luthor. She savored the rare moment of vulnerability, cautiously looking up at him as his eyes fluttered shut under her soft touch.

It was mesmerizing. The softness that was able to seep in. He was undeniably handsome, she always knew that, but seeing him like this pulled at something in her chest. She wanted to stay here forever, rubbing his cheek and comforting the aches and pains that have long scarred over.

She watched as he hummed and his features relaxed, as his weary expression turned into a small smile.

And then, she watched it morph further into a cruel grin.

Clark Luthor let out a deep chuckle.

“So gullible.”

Lois ripped herself from his embrace and acted without thinking.

SMACK

Clark didn’t get a chance to process what was happening before he felt it. The hand that was so soothing a moment ago, had struck him on the same cheek it had just been caressing. He rubbed his finger tips over the edge of his jaw where he felt the pressure. Not pain, just the push of a hand against his face. He smirked at the attempt.

“I can’t believe I thought there was even an ounce of sincerity in you! Clark Luthor you are every bit as despicable, cruel, disgusting, and monstrous as I assumed you were!”

Lois continued her tirade, jabbing a finger into his chest.

If Clark was honest with himself, it was refreshing. Lois was never the type to pander to his wealth, power, or emotions.

Sure no one hardly had anything nice to say to him but they would always hide their dislike behind scared smiles and unending placations. They weren’t ever as blunt as Lois Lane.

He couldn’t explain the rush he always got from watching the passion in her eyes as she told him off. He got a kick out of riling her up even before he became the man he was today. She made it so easy and could never back down. This was no different.

“Do you even comprehend the amount of pain and suffering you’ve caused the people around you?! Not to mention the lives on your hands parading around as Ultraman! Is there even a speck of remorse in you at all? Any sort of shame for what you’ve done? Or is it just callous indifference withering away at your rotting heart?”

Despite her best efforts, tears began welling in her eyes, blurring the image of the monster in front of her. She did her best to blink them away but some betray her and fall without her consent. Luthor didn’t deserve to see her cry.

“He was so kind to me. ” She admits and then gathers her composure.

“I guess it was too much to hope there was some of Clark Kent in you.”

At that, Clark Luthors cruel grin finally falters. Again she was comparing him to his “better” half. Some snivelling, simpering, weak version of himself. How could anyone think Kent was better than him?

Slowly he stalked around Lois till he was facing her back, gathered all her hair to one side and leaned into her ear, breath fanning her neck as he spoke.

“I should’ve killed Clark Kent when I had the chance.”

He pulled away, dragging a hand up to the back of her neck. Firmly, he turned her to face the double doors out of the study.

“I think you’ve overstayed your welcome Miss Queen.” He pushed her gently by the neck toward the exit, “It’s time to leave.”

Lois turned for a split second to look Clark Luthor in his eyes, as if to say some cruel parting words, then decided against it. He wasn’t even worth the breath. She slammed the door and stormed out of his mansion.

Clark only chuckled in response.

There was a weight on his chest and a soft hand in his hair, tugging and carding through the strands, he couldn’t help but bask in the selfish bliss. He didn’t dare disturb this moment, it felt so good, he couldn’t remember the last time he let someone be so gentle with him. Eyes still closed Clark shifted and the delicate hand moved down, gently ghosting over his bare chest, before he felt it continue lower. He let out a low hum of approval in response but it wasn't until it moved down past his navel that Clark began to wonder who was attached to the wonderfully curious extremity.

He had no memory of going out the night before, no memory of entertaining guests. Perhaps Tess made her way back to his room last night and decided to make herself at home. He didn’t care. Whatever was happening it felt too good to question. Clark stayed like that, perfectly still, for several more moments before the air shifted and his guest finally spoke.

“You should get up at some point you know,” she said, just above a whisper. She didn’t sound like Tess. Clark kept his eyes closed as he rolled onto his side, carefully maneuvering so he could face whoever was being so gentle with him. He managed to feel around for a bare hip and pulled the soft skin flush against his upper thigh.

“Why would I do that when it feels so good right here?” he murmured through a tired smile. He leaned in to brush his nose against the hair tickling his cheek. He took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of her shampoo, “Please… don’t stop on my account.”

The lovely hand snaked around his waist in response. Clark slowly opened his eyes. The light streaming in from outside was blinding at first, making it difficult to focus on the figure beside him. All he could see was dark hair falling around soft shoulders. As his eyes adjusted he could just barely make out more of her features and he blinked to try and get a better look.

Finally her face started to come into focus, and Clark jolted awake.

Familiarity bled into his senses.

It was cold.

He was engulfed in darkness and any light or warmth was gone. A thin sheen of sweat covered him, heart beating heavy in his chest, breathing shallow.

He could still feel the lingering touch on his body.

Remnants of the dream flashed in his mind. He tried to recall the details, the hazy dream fog made it difficult, but he couldn’t forget her face.

Worst of all he could feel how much it affected him, the familiar ache heavy in his boxers as he tried to come to his senses.

He couldn’t believe it.

He’d dreamt about Lois Lane.

And liked it.

~~~

Clark was restless. It was soon after his return that he realized Lionel wasn’t here anymore. Hadn’t been for a while. He didn’t mourn the loss. He knew Lionel would be fine on the other earth and was relieved to have him out of his hair. But with his father out of the picture there wasn’t much for Clark to do. It was odd. He always imagined what it would be like when he was finally free. What he never imagined was the boredom.

He tried to focus his attention on Luthorcorp. His entire life, the entire Luthorcorp legacy, had belonged to Lionel. Now he could make this world his own. Create the Luthorcorp he wanted. So, Clark divided up everything he inherited into ventures he cared about, and things that could be resold. This was his chance to do things his way. Money didn’t matter. Respect didn’t matter. And on top of everything he was Ultraman.

Anything he wanted, he’d get.

Problem was he didn’t know what he wanted.

With all his new found free time, his mind was always adrift. He spent more time than he’d care to admit thinking back to Lois’ invasion of the mansion, and subsequently to his dream from the night before. The care, the love, the passion. For a second Clark felt a hunger like he’d never known and before he could dwell on it too long, he quashed it.

It’d already been a couple weeks since the new Missus Queen stormed into his mansion demanding to see him, to confront him about his abuse of power. The genuine concern in her eyes when he expressed the fundamental difference between himself and Kent, the gentle way she stroked his cheek, and the fire and anger in her when she stormed out.

It was almost like she really cared.

Ridiculous.

He needed to focus.

He wasn’t going to let her affect him. It was time to get back to work.

~~~

Lois couldn’t put into words the kind of disappointment she felt. There was nothing quite like it. A couple weeks since her invasion of Luthor Castle and she still hand’t fully recovered. Why was she surprised? She knew what she was getting into when she stepped through the double doors to Clark Luthor’s study.

But it still hurt.

It was painful thinking about a utiopian reality where Clark was kind. A reality where he loved a version of herself, enough to risk his own life and cross dimensions to get back to her. A world where he wasn’t raised by the Luthors. God. Clark Kent wouldn’t last a week here. He could hardly handle the short stints he’d been forced into. It was probably for the best.

Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t imagine the kind of damage Clark Luthor must have done on Kent’s world. What kind of death and destruction did he cause? What relationships did he put at risk? Did he hurt that world's Lois Lane?

Another Clark Kent quote came to mind.

“You always know when I’m lying. You can see right through me straight to my soul.”

The other Lois must have known that he wasn’t himself. Something told her the other Lois wouldn’t be so easily fooled by a poor facsimile of her lover. So why couldn’t she tell when Clark Luthor was lying to her in the mansion? Perhaps his words were true. What if he really did want to be good? What if he wanted to change? What if he had been raised differently?

It didn’t matter. No use dwelling in “what if’s”. Things were back to normal.

“Miss lane?”

And there was no better cure for disappointment than a job well done. Lois needed to focus on her work. If she kept her head down at LuthorCorp Media, stayed off Luthor’s radar, maybe she could figure out a way to take him down once and for all.

“Um… Miss Lane?”

Easy enough.

“Lois Queen!”

She snapped out of her reverie. One of the interns was standing in front of her, she couldn’t remember his name. Jeremy? James? Jessie? Whatever.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout at you but you were spacing out…”

“Uh- yes, sorry, just distracted- what did you need?”

“Just- I just wanted to let you know that… uh… that Clark Luthor is- he’s back.”

“I know he’s back. I went to visit him a few weeks ago.”

The intern cleared his throat before trying again, “No I mean- like… he’s back here. At LuthorCorp Media…”

Lois froze.

It was as if a bucket of ice had been dumped on her. What was he doing here? Lois knew he was a control freak but what could he benefit from returning here? It didn’t make any sense. With Lionel gone for good, there were hundreds of different properties for Clark to keep track of. So why was he bothering with the news station he actively threatened to run into the ground?

~~~

LuthorCorp Media. What a joke.

After Lionel bought the Daily Planet, he thought it would be good for Clark to be in charge. At first it was. But when Clark took it seriously, when he tried publishing articles of value instead of just pumping out propaganda, his father had to give him a stern reminder of his place.

One painful conversation later, and Clark was relegated to being a warm body in the publisher’s seat.

A seat that was still legally his it seemed.

It surprised him how easy it was to get back in. Navigating the streets of Metropolis now was a bit of a challenge, but nothing his powers couldn’t work around. And it was even easier once he was inside. Aside from some harsh glares and pointed whispers, hardly anyone paid him any mind at all.

He chalked it up to poor management.

Clark felt odd sitting at his desk again. He hadn’t planned on coming back, but here he was anyway. He went through the articles that had been submitted, scanning over the usual praise of LuthorCorps latest acquisitions and ventures. Ugh.

With all the restrictions on the company computers, it was no wonder they were still churning out the usual slop. Probably for the best. He didn’t want word to spread too quickly about his recent purge, there were enough eyes on him as it was without the growing suspicion of selling all their most valuable assets. His final act of defiance before creating something of his own.

He moved to set the articles aside when a name jumped out at him.

Lois Queen.

So, she still worked for him. Interesting.

~~~

Interesting.

Lois knew that digging into the Luthor’s would be akin to falling down a well, but she didn’t realize how soft the landing would be. Obviously, the LuthorCorp Media computers didn’t allow them to find anything that wasn’t pre-approved by the Luthors themselves, so she had to get her cousin to hack their system to really get into the thick of it.

But it was worth it. Because what Lois found was interesting.

It seems, as recently as yesterday, Clark Luthor had been undergoing the process of selling a little less than a quarter of all LuthorCorp properties. More specifically Clark Luthor had been selling all of LuthorCorps most valuable properties for what amounted to pennies on the dollar.

Why?

What could Clark Luthor possibly have to gain from getting rid of all their most profitable assets?

Suddenly, there was an alert on her computer. She didn’t get a chance to read it before her entire browser was shut down remotely and her email was forced open.

One new message.

From Clark Luthor.

Come see me in my office. Now.

Well if she was going to be fired it might as well be when she finally had some kind of leverage. What kind she wasn’t sure. But it was better than no leverage at all.

Lois stood from her desk with dignity. This wouldn’t be the first time that Clark Luthor would try to use his position against her and if she played her cards right maybe it wouldn’t be the last. As much as she hated it she needed this job and she was going to do what she could to keep it.

When the elevator reached the top floor Lois was surprised to see Luthor’s office open. More surprising, was the figure of Clark in the chair, actually reading one of the articles that was submitted.

Funny.

Lois figured LuthorCorp just ran their articles through a scanner that checked for any kind of slander on the Luthor name and then sent it to print. But there he was, focusing on the words on the page like they actually meant something to him.

No.

She had to focus. This was probably another one of his tricks.

Lois walked into Clarks office with purpose and confidence, mentally preparing for the worst as she cleared her throat to get his attention. Not that he couldn’t hear her the second she got up from her seat in the bullpen.

“Miss Lane-”

“Queen.”

Clark only lifted his eyes to her, not bothering to tilt his head up from the article.

“Right,” he huffed, “Mrs. Queen.” Clark tried to suppress a grimace as he turned to face her. “I read your latest article.”

Lois kept her face neutral and watched Clark lean back in his fancy leather office chair. He eyed her curiously before he continued.

“It’s well done- minus the spelling errors of course,” He propped an elbow on his arm rest, rubbing his chin and pondering for a moment about his next words, “but it’s… missing something.” He set the article on his desk as he scanned over the words again.

“I wrote it exactly to the LuthorCorp Media specifications… What more do you want?”

Clark set the article down, stood from his chair and rounded his desk, leaning against it while he rolled up the sleeves of his white button up shirt. He crossed his arms over his chest, Lois stole a glance at his biceps bulging in the sleeves before she could stop herself. A ghost of a smirk played on his lips. Damn him.

“That was actually my main issue with it,” Clark clarified. “As you’re likely aware, my father’s no longer in charge, therefore I’m no longer interested in peddling his slop.”

“What do you mean-”

“Don’t play dumb Miss Lane, it doesn't suit you. I know that you bypassed our restrictions ages ago, now you’re going to finally use it to our advantage.”

“Our advantage?”

“Yes. Believe it or not it was never my intention to make LuthorCorp Media a propaganda machine. With Lionel out of the way I’d like to start moving back towards some level of integrity in our reporting.” He stood up fully to address her, “Which is why I’d like you to amend this article to reflect the new information you seemed to have uncovered.”

He couldn’t be serious. After years of working under him, pushing the same ridiculous nonsense downplaying the LuthorCorp failures and hyping their mediocre successes, now they wanted integrity? Now all of a sudden Clark Luthor was interested in telling the truth? She didnt buy it. Lois looked at Clark in equal parts shock and skepticism. She didn’t trust where he was going with this. She knew the Luthor’s, there was always some type of angle.

“I want you to include the purging of LuthorCorp ownerships in your latest article,” he said, “And don’t leave out any details. Have it on my desk by the end of the week and we’ll run it on the front page Monday morning.”

Her jaw dropped. What? He couldn’t possibly be serious? Just like that he was going to forfeit his hand to the entire country? She wasn’t going through with it. Not until she was certain.

Lois looked into Clarks eyes, much like she had at the mansion, trying to find any hint at a lie. A sign, a tell, anything. Clarks expression shifted a bit in confusion, but his eyes were steady on hers as she continued to search for whatever it was that Clark Kent’s Lois could so easily see in him.

Then, she saw it. A subtle but visible softness, just like at the mansion. He was telling the truth now, and it confirmed her suspicion that for a brief moment, he was telling the truth then. His words might have all been part of his charade, but that softness in that moment was real. And it was real now.