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Chapter Text

Lex tentatively opens his eyes. His head is clear for once but his body still feels sluggish from sleep. He looks to the side, half expecting Clark to be there only to find his side of the bed cold.

The flowers are gone but there is still that scent lingering in the air.

Lex forces himself to leave the bed. If he has any chance of leaving this place then he is going to take it. He finds himself given no clothes however as he would have no use for it when he is in bed all day.

He stumbles towards the door, his legs shaky from the lack of use and Clark being so damn rough last night.

He can go out naked, just anything to get away from this place. But instead, he is hit in the face by a bunch of flowers. Lex flinches back, thinking that it is more of that alien flower but it's purple and normal-looking.

"I got these for you, it reminded me of the shirt you used to wear... I wonder where that went..." Clark muses as he enters the room, closing the door behind him.

He could have just thrown Lex onto the bed or in the closet as a punishment because there was no way Clark didn't use x-ray vision to see what he was about to do but Clark hadn't stopped him from leaving nor did he say he couldn't leave.

He places the flowers by their bedside and Lex had to rub his temple and squeeze his eyes shut and blink them open to double check that he isn't having a fever dream.

Clark notices that Lex is still standing at the door, looking at him like a deer in headlights. As cute as he is in his underwear and staring at him with wide eyes, he didn't like that Lex is so scared of him.

He would never seriously injure him, maybe he had been a little too rough in the biting and fucking but he just can't control himself when it comes to Lex.

He sighs, smelling the flowers. He had been flying when he saw these in a booth of a flower vendor who he came around often mainly because it's nice to smell some sweet floral smell when despite the city having the lack of cars around due to the fact that he loves using it as weapons makes one a waste of money. Still, the city smells of metal and fear.

Only the florist who seems like he doesn't really care much for anything in the world even if an alien came down here and abduct him, he wouldn't blink an eye. Not that Clark would allow it of course.

Clark notices that he had these morning glories which he hadn't sold before. He told him that it was new after his orchids were alo brought out despite Clark seeing no customers at all around him.

But he believes him given that he can afford to pay for good food.

Whenever Clark is bored, he goes over to loom ominously at his stall but the florist simply stares at him like a customer, which is the usual detached staring that said: 'Either buy one or move out of the way, you're bad for business.'

He had tried physically threatening him but all it did was shake the dirt out of his pockets when Clark hung him upside down. Since then Clark had paid for his lunch and dinner and sat with him to eat.

See? He can be nice when he wants to.

He notices that Clark is looking at the morning glories with interest. At this point, Clark couldn't tell where he had seen that shade of purple before.

"Take it then," he grabs a bouquet and wraps it up for him. "For your partner aye?" He smiles and it's the first time outside of eating together he has seen him smile and it's not as dramatic as Clark expects it to be.

"Why... are you being so nice to me?" Clark asks and it's a question he didn't want answered but he asks it anyway because a part of him is genuinely curious and another more unconscious part of him already knew the answer.

"Well ya pay for my food ain't it? And you're really just like all of us anyway, not so alien and overlord like anyone says."

The unconscious part of him that is so utterly human was right. Clark dumbly grabs the morning glories and flies back home while giving the florist a small wave.

Was he really like them? It doesn't seem like it. He is stronger, better and less cowardly. He doesn't shrink from authority, he challenges it. That is what he thinks he has been doing all this time but what authority is there in the world that can stop him?

"Clark... did you..." Lex is afraid of what he did but he still cannot help but ask, nevermind he should be bolting out of there when he could just super speed and snap his neck like tearing a piece of paper. "... you didn't need to get me that... you never have to get me anything..."

"Why? Don't you like it?" Clark frowns as he turns to face Lex.

"I'm just not a flower person," Lex smiles but he cannot hide the fear in his eyes when Clark steps closer to him.

"Then you like chocolates? You refuse to eat the ones I gave you though... then you want a car? I've given you all the car you wanted but the last porsche I gave you is still under bay... jewelry? They keep going missing... tell me... then..." Clark glares at him as he is close enough that his angry breath tickles his head. "What do you like? Do you even like me?"

"O-of course I do!" Lex should reach for the door knob but it's just slightly out of reach, he'll need to jump if he wants to escape. But his heart is beating fast and he is sweating.

"Lies!" Clark exclaims he pushes Lex and he flies through the door.

There, now he's free... Lex scrambles up as the adrenaline numbs the pain in his back. Clark glares, eyes glowing dangerously red. But Lex doesn't get up an bolt, maybe because there is a seering pain in his leg.

Clark, noticing that something is wrong, grabs Lex by the collar before tossing him onto the bed. He can simply wait for him to heal but Clark wants to take care of his brother. He forcefully grips his leg, shooting pain up Lex's thigh, making him groan in pain.

It only made Clark excited as he surges forward to kiss Lex. The morning glories hung beside their bed as if dying from the sheer amount of irony in the room.

The flower of the transient nature of life.

Chapter Text

Lex is reading the news on his tablet when Krypto, ever energetic, sneaks up upon him. His teeth on full display as he jumps straight onto his face.

"Krypto? Krypto!" Clark exclaims, running from upstairs as he quickly goes over to pull Krypto who is licking Lex's face away from him.

Lex grins in amusement as he gave his hand to Krypto for him to lick before he is hauled out of there.

"Are you okay?" Clark asks in worry.

"Yeah," Lex grins, rising to kiss Clark on the cheek, making him flustered. The reason why Clark was worried was because the last time Krypto met Lex he had mauled Lex and broke his arm but now it seems like Krypto had already forgotten all the things Lex had done and decided he is an 'ok' tasting person.

"I didn't expect you to be home..." Clark mutters sheepishy. He had been actively made Krypto visit times sync with Lex's work so they won't have to see each other. But it seems like his fear had been unfounded.

Clark's apartment used to be empty with just him and not much personal things due to the fact that he seldom uses it but now a mix of his and Lex's things are all over the place ans he spends more time here looking forward to cuddling with Lex to sleep. Laptops, mugs, plates with snacks, dog treats and toys littered the place. Even though Clark made sure Krypto and Lex's paths never cross, Lex still knew with the sight of dog fur all over the couch so left a few dog stuff around for Krypto to play with.

Maybe it's because Lex's scent is all over the place too, that's why Krypto scrambles to juke Superman into letting him play with Lex.

"Come on Krypto," Clark captures him into a bear hug before bringing him up into his very superdog-proof room.

Lex smiles, waving goodbye at the unruly pup as he struggles to look at Lex over Clark's shoulder, returning to the couch to continue his reading.

He is interrupted again however before he could turn the page with a rustle of something like grass beside him. A bouquet of dafodills greeted him and waffles to him with a pleasant smell.

"Happy one month anniversary," Clark grins.

Lex chuckles, accepting the pretty flowers.

"I haven't gotten you anything... how about we go out for dinner tonight and I can fetch you from work?" Lex asks.

"And have people staring at Mercy?" Clark muses as he flies over to the other side of the couch and kisses Lex on the lips. The first time they did this was the very thing that started this whole saga of Clark learning that Lex is actually a good person when he is not hating Superman and Lex falling for that smallville charm after forgetting why he hated Superman in the first place.

"How about I cook?" Lex asks.

Okay maybe Lex is still dangerous given he had manage to turn the kitchen into a makeshift bomb waiting to go off the last time he tried to cook. Clark has no idea how and Lex swears he doesn't do it on purpose. He tried at least...

"How about, I bring back Metro and we'll binge Hell's Kitchen," Clark smiles.

Lex hums as he lazily leans against Clark's shoulder. It seems like Clark is very comfortable on the expensive couch that Lex is sure Krypto had chewed and drooled on and Lex comfortable on top of Clark until they could just sleep there.

"How about I bring back Metro and then we'll binge Hell's Kitchen?" Lex grins. "The usual, steak with fries?"

"Mm maybe surprise me this time," Clark smiles.

"Really?" Lex frowns, perking up. "What if I buy something you don't like?"

"Nah... I can eat pretty much anything," Clark grins.

"Okay so you can't complain if you don't like it," Lex smiles.

"Ok."

Now that's a challenge, Clark tells him about the time he was often eating tires and pipes because he didn't know it was not food and apparently loves the taste. Lex scrunches up in disgust.

Lex prepares the dinner table, despite taking take out, Metro is considered a good restaurant when plated, seems like something out of the candlelit dinners from the movies Clark likes so much but better, obviously.

Clark comes home early to the beautiful sight of the dining table moved near the windows just so that they have a good view the flowers might be innocent compared to the rest of the romantic setting but it's charming in its own way and a promise for the future to come.

Chapter Text

Clark finds that after the incident with Krypto, Lex stopped fighting him on things and actually listening to him by making more ethical choices and although Luthorcorp can run on pretty much consumer goods and advertisement it is not generating enough money to fully fund his Superman killing crusade so he decides to cut down on his own spending and sells some of the houses he had overseas.

Some of them he had use as safe houses but some like the Japanese home he cannot bear to sell and it's not because he made memories there, only because the value of the house there will increase and he'll sell it if he is in dire need of very expensive surgery or something.

It's still his birthday so he is in his pool, drinking wine while vibing on his float when he feels something soft tickle his hand. There are Jasmine flowers flowing down towards him, he raises his eyebrows, looking at the guy standing at the edge of the pool.

"What do you want?" Lex asks, annoyed at his float for turning him around so he is forced to face Superman and the fact that he is leisurely walking around his pool like he owns the place, like they were close friends or something.

"Why are you mad? It's your birthday," Superman smiles as he presents to him a bouquet of white tulips. Lex stares at it and doesn't reach out a hand to accept it but doesn't out right reject it either, simply pretending like they weren't there.

"I know that and you're cutting into my relaxing time," Lex grumbles.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry..." Superman is still holding the flowers instead of throwing them out. "But I didn't want you to be alone on this special day."

"The 'special day' ended thirty five years ago when I was born," Lex snorts.

"That's not true," his voice is too soft for Lex's liking, it reminded him of his mother, of weakness. "Each year is a gift, reminding us how far we've come... even the little things are worth celebrating."

Lex rolls his eyes. "Why are we fighting over something as trivial as birthdays, don't you have anything better to do than make my day worse?" He grumbles.

"Would you rather we fight with kaijus, robots and talk about philosophy?" Superman asks in amusement.

"That would be preferred yes," Lex snorts. "And it'll end with my Kryptonite suit up your stupid-"

Superman raises his eyebrows as Lex catches himself too late in revealing his next plan to take Superman down.

"Could this Kryptonite suit be in one of your labs I presume?"

"No... it's a metaphorical one," Lex snorts, he needs a drink, preferably to knock himself into a coma for the freudian slip.

"Lex..." Superman sighs like a disappointed mum. "I thought we were getting better..."

Lex snorts, quite the opposite actually the more Superman barges into his personal space and life the more Lex wants to kill the only thing that stands between him and being the number one on this stinking dumb planet.

He extends his hand, Superman was still holding the flowers so assumed that he wanted them now. Lex slaps it away.

"The wine."

"Lex... that's enough drinking..." Superman replies.

Lex hops off his float, glaring up at him as he rises from the water. Superman looks away but Lex knew that he had been staring not at his expression. He isn't shy about his physique and would consider himself one of the best so of course Superman would stare.

His hand grabs his before he could take the glass.

But instead his voice is stuck in his throat as Superman's face it too close to him.

"Take these, I'll make you something," Superman doesn't let him reject, Lex can just let the flowers just drop onto the ground but Superman's cape is warm around him and he is getting cold from standing out dripping wet.

Well, if he was going to let Lex use his cape as a towel then sure he guessed. He places the flowers on the table and takes a quick shower.

When he comes out of it the flowers stare sadly back at him. He used to give Eve and Angela flowers and usually roses are the only thing he would get but Tulips he guessed it was nice... white tulips... was he asking for his funeral or something?

Maybe they are back to fighting. Lex takes the flowers absentmindedly and arrives at the kitchen with nothing but a robe. And nothing else.

Superman seems to notice as his eyes left as quickly as it laid upon him, face red. He's so easy just like the rest of them... so why isn't he happy?

"Here."

"What is that?" It's a dark olive drink with a side of lemon and a toothpick which was probably meant to be an umbrella but to Lex it just looks funny and most likely poison.

"Oh come on," Superman pouts at the unfiltered expression of apprehensiveness. "You haven't even tried it yet!"

Lex rolls his eyes before taking a sniff and a sip of it. It has a bittersweet kind of taste, there is no kick to it but, it was delicious nonetheless.

"It's average at best," Lex snorts. "Where did you even get the ingredients for this?"

"Well I thought you might like it so I brought a bottle," Superman smiles as he pours Lex some more. Lex doesn't say anything to that and simply drinks some more.

"Oh here," Superman takes the flowers and places them onto the dining table. Did he also bring the flower vase here? It's white so it matches his table at least.

"What do those flowers mean?" Lex asks.

"Hm?" Superman seems like he doesn't know what he is talking about but Lex finds it hard to believe given he has proven himself to be not as dumb as he looks again and again. "It means new beginnings... and also an apology," he smiles sheepishly.

"Well I don't accept it," Lex scoffs. He doesn't go over to burn or throw away the flowers.

"Okay... I think the flower is still nice," Superman's voice is hesitant, Lex misunderstands the reason why. The forgiveness was not for himself.

Lex hums, saying nothing more as he leads him to his room. Clark glances behind him, he should have left Lex alone but he finds that he can't no matter what Lois or Guy says. Lois is right to be skeptical but Guy is insistent that Lex be locked up for life.

As much as he likes to Lex has too much power. Lex smiles up at Superman as he absent mindedly follows his lead and kneels into his bed. It was like he was a siren and Clark being led into the dark abyss.

Chapter Text

When Clark dies, the first thing he would think about he guessed it was his Ma and Pa back in the farm, wondering if they will be fine without him. Sure he stopped helping them out but he still visited them often. Lois might go there to help him take over but... he doubts that she can really commit to anything other than her work.

Which is good because he wouldn't want to burden her with that. He wouldn't want to burden anyone. But he does, because he existed, because Superman existed people would look up at the sky, hoping for some hero to save them from the fire when they have a fire extinguisher right beside them.

They won't use it, cause why would they want to learn when they can wait for Superman to burst in and save them?

That is Lex's belief. While Superman believes this to be not true, he still cannot help but worry as there are threats not even humanity can handle.

He opens his eyes, half expecting to see heaven... or whatever the afterlife is there out there... not the familiar ceiling of the fortress. Maybe this is his heaven, his santuary.

But the smell of daisies are new.

He also sees the head of Mercy at the edge of his vision, she flicks her finger onto a syringe that looks suspiciously a lot like liquid Kryptonite. She turns around, not expecting Clark to be awake.

"Mercy... what is that?" Clark narrows his eyes.

"Oh don't be such a baby, it's antibiotics," Mercy muses as she quickly stabs him in the arm and injects it into him before he can protest.

"I can just heal naturally..." Clark muses as he tries to sit up only to wince at the pain.

"Yeah sure... with the Kryptonite in your veins it will be a race to see if you can heal or die faster," Mercy muses. "You should go and do your business and expel whatever you can naturally before it comes out your throat."

"Oookay..." Clark manages to heal enough to hobble to the toilet. His piss is green but he's sure that will turn normal soon... right?

Unable to sit in one place despite the pain, he goes to find Lex.

"He's in the garden," Mercy replies as she makes herself some coffee without him even saying anything, it's like she can read his mind.

"Thanks," Clark grins as Mercy ignores him for perfectly baked cookies. Somehow they managed an oven and microwave here. Despite having her own house she spends most of the time here with Lex, making sure he has everything he need and since Mercy is here doing not much stuff, other than sparring with the robots, she had taken up baking just for fun.

The cookies seem less burnt now and overly sweet. Clark had manage to test taste attempts one to nine and finds her progress quite good, around the fourth attempt she tries different flavours.

He has one for himself and another for Lex.

He half expects Lex to not be in the garden anymore since he didn't know what he could do in there for so long only to find him not only still there but also watering plants he didn't remember planting them there before.

Usually the garden is used to store Kryptonian plants but there is a whole section that has been empty for as long as he can remember, his family owned a farm after all, anything he wanted can be grown there.

Lex seems comfortable despite the lump on his belly, Mercy had everything prepared from day one and made sure he had enough clothes, nutrients required but it's not like the fortress didn't already have the medical part covered but Mercy insisted that he eat healthy and supplements good to humans too and even worked together with the computer to make sure there won't be side effects.

Clark is glad that they seem well at ease here.

Lex complains that Clark wasn't using the fortress enough so he gave him free reign on the rooms here except to access the computer. Clark still isn't sure that he might use it to turn it against him somehow but it's been weeks and Lex is pretty much on his best behavior.

Sure he had saved him but Clark isn't dumb to fully trust him still.

His eyes skim over the plants, some of them are at varying degrees of growth, there is a patch of Daises and Tulips but Clark recognises a few saplings that look like tomatoes or potatoes.

"I'm surprised that this is the room you're remodelling," Clark muses as he lowers himself to smell the daisies.

"I've also made your zoo safer for your limited occupants," Lex replies, like this is some normal Tuesday for him. "They have a cover now fully intuned to the outside weather and easy to open and close, your sun eater misses basking in the sun."

"That's not-" Clark starts in horror.

"I'm joking, your sun eater has an automatic feeder so you don't have to keep feeding it and it's in complete darkness, not a void but... it reminds it of its home," Lex snorts as Clark takes the watering can from him despite it weighing less than when it had water in it.

"You should leave it to Mercy... what if you had an accident?" Clark sighs.

"I'm bored," Lex snorts. "Besides, Mercy needs to go back soon."

Clark hums before having a bright idea.

"Can I get some of your flowers?" Clark asks.

"Go ahead, these are for you anyway, not me," Lex scoffs. Clark doesn't believe that one bit and tells him to wait in the main room. Lex and Mercy said their goodbyes given Clark will most likely be bedridden here because of his injuries even though Lex wouldn't have believed her if the medical table wasn't littered with blood.

So much sample here, Mercy is sure to swipe up some for their Ultraman army.

Clark finally returns minutes after Mercy leaves with a wire and a bunch of dry cut flowers.

"We can make flower crowns," Clark smiles.

"With live flowers?" Lex snorts even so he takes the wire from him. "They won't last a day."

"They'll last a year at least," Clark grins. They only have two choices but when done right with leaves and stems as accents, they can look nice. Clark had done some with Cat when she heard about growing flowers in the Kent farm only flower crowns were more of a city hobby rather than something he does in the farm but it was nice to learn.

Clark teaches him how to thread and tie the finish product together. Lex had made one entirely up of white daisies while Clark had a few coloured tulips and a big white daisy on the side.

Lex finds that Clark looks cute in the flower crown, he is sure he looks ridiculous not knowing the effect he has on the Kryptonian. Lex thinks that it'll also maybe fit on the baby should he not decide to raise the baby as his and not the alien's.

Clark had given him the daisies Lex had given him, saying that it suits him. Lex disagrees but only smiles at him amicably.

Chapter Text

When Lex offered to do chores around the house the consensus was a resounding no. Lex may have tinkered with his inventions but cleaning the place and helping to carry heavy loads of food and milk was different. It requires more physical strength than dexterity and Lex is unable to stand the smell of the cloth dipped in Martha's own special soap recipe.

If used for too long will also wrinkle his hands.

"I'm doing it and I don't care, if my father threatens you then come to me, I'll fend him off."

The fact that they allowed him to dry the clothes and dishes after that might be the reason why they were insistent that he does nothing while he stays here, leaching off their hard earn farmer money. Lex offered to hire them servants but they refused, saying that this farm has been taken off by them for generations and won't have it any other way.

"Here, mum wants these planted so they can bloom before winter," Clark replies, handing him a few buds.

"What is it?"

"Scorpion grasses, she thought it might look good around the house," Clark smiles. "It's purple and pretty."

Lex nods, not realising that he is also wearing purple and pretty. He only realises when Clark smirks cheekily at him.

"Oh stop that," Lex huffs, cheeks pinking as he stands to plant the rest of the seeds.

Turns out he is quite efficient when it comes to housework and since it was Lex doing it, he can use any shortcut he wants. Martha is at least open to being own Lex's own invention which he calls, a mop, it protects one's hand from the chemicals and from the smell and can reach places a hand can reach and more.

He shows her that it can extend all the way to the ceiling.

Clark smiles, glad that Lex's knowledge is put to good use.

As a reward, Clark brings Lex to the hills. Lea had allowed him to ride her since he was bringing Lex out honestly she looks more like Lex's horse than Clark's and often times Swiftwind and Lea are both competing to be brushed by Lex even if he gave them both equal attention. Swiftwind had already been sleeping so Clark took Lea out instead.

Over the hill, they can not only see the ocean but the beautiful full moon.

Lex was so entranced by the view he didn't notice the flower that Clark had brought out of his bag.

"Scorpion grasses," Clark explains as he gives them to Lex who is surprised. "Mum wanted to see which one would look nice so... I decided to buy them for you."

They look ethereal, especially under the moonlight where they seem to glow a beautiful light blue. Clark smiles, wondering if Lex knows that his eyes are currently the same pretty color, maybe he should keep the flowers near him whenever they do this. He loves his green eyes but he finds blue the second best.

Clark had told Lex this and he had explained the science behind the lighting with the blush back on his face. Clark kisses Lex on the cheek, unable to control himself as Lex lets him worship him with his mouth. Lea gapes at their audacity and turns around to go graze a little.

The next day, Lex sees a painting in the barn's upper floors and it's of him from last night, surrounded by the blue flowers. 

"I didn't know you were such an artist Clark," Lex muses.

"I just drew whatever came to my mind," Clark smiles nervously, usually he doesn't even show his parents his drawings. It was a great way to express himself but some of the drawings are a little abstract. It's filled with torn papers and quick strokes, there is even one that has been half burnt.

"I don't think it's that great," Clark shuffles nervously I was young when I did those...

"I see..." Lex smiles. "I think it has some story to it, no? Was there someone you wanted to erase?" He notices the person underneath the black lines only to realise that it's Clark when he traces the hair, it didn't look like him because he didn't color in his eyes when he drew his red flannel in.

He forgets that judgement wasn't only prevalent in the castle. Many made fun of him having such beautiful eyes.

Lex narrows his eyes when he hears that. "Well I think they are what makes you stand out and unique, I mean, Bruce also has blue eyes," Lex frowns.

"Yeah well... they think it's to feminine for a farm boy like me."

Lex sighs, pulling Clark into a hug. He knows that more than anyone but Clark had single handedly defeated not only the army of Oa but also Darkseid. He bet that those who made fun of him are now wishing that they can eat their words.

"But I don't really mind..." Clark smiles as they pull apart. "It makes me more approachable to kids and those who are kind... I think it makes me kind of an animal whisperer too," he grins.

"Yeah... the animals all love you," Lex smiles.

"Even more than you?" Clark teases him as they went to sit onto the couch.

"Nah, I love you the most," Lex grins.

Clark smiles, pulling Lex into a kiss. In a way, his eyes are like the scorpion grasses and if Lex drew a matching portrait of Clark that made it look like they were holding hands beyond the easel, Martha didn't definitely frame them despite the clear contrast in art styles.

Chapter Text

Ultraman had stayed for Elizabeth, so Lex had not expected much from him when it came to getting along with other people. Hell, Lex even thinks that maybe he wants to be done with the fighting thing and fetch Eliza from and to school everyday, making breakfast and plant flowers.

Lex hadn't expected him to plant sunflowers but they are tiny ones, not like the ones in the field. He remembers his mum used to love them but because they didn't want to gain too much attention and rented out a small apartment, there was no place to plant them.

The world is a safer place now but she didn't last long enough to see it.

Safe… if the world is safe he wouldn't be bleeding through his suit, trudging through the sewers of Metropolis with Owl slump over him.

“Almost there… don’t… don’t fall asleep yet…”

Owl smiles but his expression is paler than he already is.

“It’s probably useless to tell you to leave me be right?” He asks.

“Yeah… we’re almost there and the fact that I’m carrying you and your armour is already a lot,” Lex teases.

Lex is also injured and leaving a trail of blood in their wake, each drip chipping off his energy and making him stagger even more. There is no back up, the rest are probably still fighting and a bomb is going to go off, destroying the city they are in.

The ceiling cracks but Lex doesn’t notice it but Owl does. With the last of his strength, he pushes Lex away.

“Owl!” Lex exclaims but he backs off when the debris almost hits him.

A power ring descends from the top but it’s not the same one from the Crime Syndicate.

"You should have died a long time ago Luthor," Power ring growls.

He was going to probably have a hole in his chest but he wasn't going down without a fight. Lex couldn't even raise his arm completely when Lex hears the sound of the ring firing but it doesn't hit him. It instead hits a figure in a black jacket and jeans.

"Yuu!" Lex exclaims in surprise

Unlike Conner and Ultraman, Yuu is surprisingly gentle when it comes to his fights, Lex didn't even know if he could fight. Everything they knew from Yuu was speculative at best but Yuu seems to know his strength and is sluggish as if knowing moves but just doing them, not really connecting them and Power Ring only needed to fake an attack to overwhelm him.

Lex raises his hand and takes a shot while Yuu flies past him. It hits Power Ring square in the face. Lex hurries over to pulls Yuu out of the rubble.

Another figure breaks through the ceiling and he was afraid that it may be Ultraboy until he sees a black red and blue instead of entirely black and gold.

"Superman... what happened to Ultraboy?" Power Ring is pale as if scared of him.

Conner's eyes shine a scary red even with blood on his face.

"You need not worry about him," Conner growls before flying at Power Ring, knocking him back as he conjures shield upon shield that shatter like glass. Power Ring fakes a ring attack with Green Kryptonite and it lodges itself into his shoulder. Conner grits his teeth, kneeling onto the ground from the pain.

Not Blue, Green Kryponite is used to power the Ultra family but Conner had been used from the DNA sample he swiped from an alternate Superman when he first visited his world. It was easy given he offered them water and only Superman and Wonder Woman accepted it.

Wonder Woman was also a great candidate to clone but Superman had more powers and it's shameful but Lex hadn't liked Superwoman and Wonder Woman, she's great but reminded her too much of her counterpart. She loved tormenting him. At least with Ultraman he was more reasonable and fair, so long as Lex doesn't mess with his people, he didn't care.

Conner in his time as a young clone was volatile he had mixed with bad people and somehow became Ultraman's protege.

That is why he doesn't hold back, most of his years Lex had thought he died in the lab, mourning him only to see Ultraboy having weakeness to no blue Kryptonite but green.

So when Conner became good, the crime syndicate had more use for their green Kryptonite. Ultraman however who had lost everyone but Conner, sided with him instead of Superwoman and his unborn child.

Which is wild by the way. Lex hadn't believed it until he came back from the other universe and collapsed directly onto him. That would have been the best time to kill him should he want to there was no one else in the watchtower if not he wouldn't have needed to fly him home.

Lex wanted to help Conner but is pulled back by Yuu who charges towards Power Ring, knocking him into the sky. He seems to be affected by Green Kryptonite but endures the pain, pulling it out of Conner and tossing it toward's Lex general direction before shooting back up into the sky.

Lex helps Conner up as he hands him a solar pill which he can use to quickly heal by consuming it.

"Thanks dad," Conner grins before flying after him. Of course Conner would be eager to fight not knowing that maybe the only reason why they are overwhelming them at Lexcorp of all places was because their target was the CEO of Lexcorp.

Miss Martian rises out from the ground behind him, knocking him out with a direct hit of a napkin laced with knock out drug. Conner kept saying that he needed a helmet not knowing that he used to have one but due to so many people trusting him, was the reason why the justice league had been halved.

Yuu notices that Conner is helping him but so long as Conner doesn't hold back, Power Ring is unable to beat him. Yuu quickly goes back into the sewers only to find her them flying away in the distance. Yuu catches up to her easily and she almost drops Lex but completely drops him when she slams into Yuu head first. Yuu pushes her away before she can snap her own neck and grabs Lex from her loose grip.

He didn't bother to help Conner and the others.

"Dad? Dad!"

Lex half expects Elizabeth to be there only to be met with a sunflower in his face.

"It worked!" Eliza beams. "Dad! Are you okay?!" 

Her being here definitely made him feel not as bad as he expects himself to be.

"The fight..." Lex mutters.

"Father is going to help but I heard from Conner that it's going well," Eliza shows him her tablet where Conner sent a thumbs up emoji when she typed in all caps 'ARE YOU OKAY?!'

That doesn't give him much reassurance but if Clark was going to help them...

"You could have brought me to the watchtower instead... Clark and Owl..." Lex clutches his head as he feels a headache coming in.

"Well you can't blame him," Eliza pouts. "All he ever knows is to go to the museum or home... I know! I can go to the watchtower again with Yuu!"

Eliza said before that she wanted to wait until she has full control of her powers and learn how to fight yet with Yuu who seems to need more help gave Eliza the confidence she needed.

Lex thinks that she can join the justice league but given how many people they lose everyday...

If he could he'd never want Eliza to join... Lex calls Conner through his suit.

"Is owl okay?" Lex asks as Conner seems to be flying still.

"Yeah, Croc digged him out of the rubble and they are in the medical bay... how about you?" Conner asks.

"Is the bomb defused?"

"Yes... and no civilian casualties."

"What about on our side?"

Conner doesn't say anything about that. "I'll talk to you later, I'm tailing behind Warhawk and hopefully they will lead me to their hideout."

"Is Tim with you?" Lex asks.

"No..."

"Conner... don't go alone..."

"Dad it's fine, they have all used the Green Kryptonite they have and have been for months now, I'd be surprise if they can fill a bag with Green Kryptonite."

"Okay but Clark isn't sufficient back up, both of you have weaknesses to Green Kryptonite..." Lex mutters.

"Okay Harlequin is with me."

"Conner..."

Lex sighs in defeat as Yuu is still offering him the sunflower. Lex smiles up at him and accepts it. "Thank you..."

Yuu doesn't say anything before leaving the room. Lex has a bad feeling about this but Eliza seems confident that Yuu will protect Conner.

They chose a great time to attack, Ultraman is dealing with dark magic again and this time it's actually going to be tough for him and Ana to deal with. Lex looks at the panic button that the Batman from Clark's universe gave him.

He thinks better of it, there was probably another universe that can help them better. And it might be awkward for Conner to meet his dad but... hey, at least he can check it off his bucket list.

Chapter Text

Other than Archery it seemed like Jack also knew horseriding because he thought it would be exciting to be a lot like the movies where characters rode horses and duel with guns or a bow and arrow.

"Bruce didn't really like guns..."

"Yeah... I don't like it either," Lex muses, he sincerely hopes that he hadn't fired a gun when Bruce told him that because it was sure to turn into a fight. He won't tell Jack about why that is so. Bruce is already angry at the world for taking his parents away from him, he didn't need anyone else badgering him.

"Well bow and arrow is much cooler anyway," Jack grins and Lex has to agree with that even if he ignores his bias. "Anyway, the arrow's trajectory is going to move so let loose it earlier than you think is going to hit."

Lex nods, patting his horse, Onyx even though he seems like the one who needs comforting.

"Just make sure hold on with your legs."

But Lex didn't even know how to ride a horse so when he moves around the saddle despite his stead being as stable as she can, Lex is starting to think that Jack is doing this on purpose when he almost falls of the horse only for Jack to catch him.

"Whaaaat... I'm not doing it on purpose," Jack grins mischievously. Yeah and Lex is broke.

Lex shakes his head and decides to pull his ride away from the shooting range as Jack easily shoots his first arrow, it lands slightly off the center.

Lex watches, impressed with his skill but he knows he is just showing off. He turns away, hoping down from Onyx.

Jack notices and goes over to him. Onyx is not impressed with his flirting skills and even turn her head over to him, much to his surprise. Onyx choosing a stranger over him? That's new. But then Jack always had bad vibes with animals.

"Hey, sorry..." Jack smiles. "Let's go on a small ride, come on, Onyx hasn't gotten enough exercise."

Althought Onyx looks like she would rather return to the stables and to see him fumble again, Lex believes Jack and climbs on abruptly, surprising Onyx but to her credit she doesn't panic.

They trot over to the lake side where beautiful pink flowers are blooming.

"Pink begonias? This isn't their usual habitat... did someone plant this here?" Lex asks.

It's Ivy's flowers and she will kill anyone who touches them but Jack has no fear, plucking a few for Lex.

"Do you like them?" Jack asks.

"Yes but... plucking them like that... are you sure you won't get into trouble?" Lex frowns.

"Meh it's on the school grounds so it's all fair game, there is so many anyway, no one will know..." accept for Ivy but he doesn't tell Lex that. If she finds the flowers in Lex's hand he is going to get into deep trouble.

"Keep it to yourself," Lex huffs, knowing what he was trying to do by giving him the flowers.

Jack grins, smelling the flowers before tossing them onto the ground.

Feeling bad, Lex comes back the next day to check on the flowers. This time Ivy was there and Jack, watching from the distance, sees her angry at him but Lex's expression is cute when he is apologetic and has a beauty that is similiar to her tastes Jack thinks.

In a way Lex is a lot like Harley Jack finds maybe that's why he is drawn to that danger and obsession. Too bad Jack isn't the object of his obsession.

But Jack finds that he didn't mind, not when Ivy glares at the direction of Jack before looking at Lex with a soft expression. She says something before Lex leaves, walking towards Jack and Ivy ignores Jack and tends to the flowers instead.

Jack smiles, producing one of the pink flowers and attempts to put it tuck behind his ear but Lex grabs it from his fingers before going to put it beside its sisters when Jack grabs him by the waist, their face is quite close.

"Last chance to back out princess," Jack grins. Lex pushes him away and Jack drops his arms.

"I don't know what games you are playing at Jack but I want no part of it," Lex replies.

"Oh but you're already deep, deep inside of it, you may not know this but..." Jack produces another flower and places it onto his hand instead of touching his face again. "... I wish I can protect you but... if you continue down this path, it's going to be messy... you should at least move in with me so I can help you..."

Yeah and bunk in with a potential serial killer? No thanks. He is not that dumb. Lex turns away to leave but Jack grabs his wrist, the one with the flowers in his hand.

"Just tell me... do I have a chance at all?" Jack asks.

Lex remembers the black wavy hair and blue eyes... the sad puppy eyes and the untold scars underneath his skin. There are two people that fit that description and Lex is only thinking of one. Lex is numb to those who chase after him, they never will have good intentions but he knows the benefits outweighs the dangers, so long as he has a bodyguard it'll be fine.

"Maybe... I don't know..." it came out too honestly and Jack smiles, letting him go as Lex's cheeks heat up.

Said bodyguard Clark Kent is watching them from afar, making sure Jack doesn't go too far. He cannot help the jealous expression when he is alone, a dark and glaring frown.