I do get this small feeling of vindication that Clark Luthor went off the deep end much earlier than Lex. Full blown serial killer during his early 20s while Lex was in fact trying to be a better person at that time like I mean of course I know Clark Luthor upbringing was probably much more violent that Lex's and Lex always wanted to defy his father while Clark always wanted to be called a good boy for following the rules ALAS ... this panels from Smallville Season 11 lives rent free on my mind
ok sorry i don’t want to spoil you but to me second clark luthor episode has insane implications of abuse as well, and if i was clark luthor and found out there was a second universe in which my body had had, what at least from the outside looks like, a perfect childhood while i was suffering abuse at the hands of extra evil lionel luthor i would genuinely never get over it and destroy the world and also become a more evil serial killer. sorry but i think clark luthor should be more evil genuinely
no he's so real for that. he should try to kill gay clark kent smallville. oh my god can you imagine clark luthor crashout when he realizes clark at one point genuinely worked with with lionel like in this universe lionel met clark and gave up being evil and abusing children specifically to help him. and that clark was sad when he died. god he deserves to kill mainline gay clark kent for that ALONE jesus christ.
also listen i've said it before about lex but when you're an abused child it's literally fine to evil in your twenties. like you can do whatever you want it's morally ethically legally fine. to me. to be evil in your twenties. when youre in a situation like "having lionel luthor as a father". we can start the moral accountability when you hit your thirties.
"I can't live in a world where you don't love me."
Summary: Clark Luthor and Lois Queen never had anything to do with each other. But a glimpse into another world shows them what could have been, and what still might be.
Word Count: 1.8k
Warnings: spoilers for Smallville 10x10 and 10x17, slight spoilers for dynamics mentioned in the season 11 comics (i didn't read them i just used the character traits mentioned in s11 for added context), allusions to past incest (if you've seen the eps you know the gist of it), manipulation, aggression, emotional abuse, only slightly proof read
A/N: Inspired by the Clark Luthor episodes from Smallville and those Clois tiktok edits. I firmly believe they would fall in love no matter what world they live in. Its inevitable and I needed to make a fix-it fic about it.
After fighting an alternate version of himself, being lectured on his potential for good, and speaking with his birth father for the first time, Clark Luthor was truly exhausted.
Not physically of course, but he didn’t want to think of anything for the rest of the day if he could help it. There was nothing his old man could teach him that mattered now, and nothing Clark Kent could say to make him good. He needed to go home.
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.
Lionel tapped his chin as he watched the boy sitting in his wife's lap. He was trying to fit toy blocks into a much smaller space. "He doesn't seem very bright, does he?" he commented and received a slight scowl from Martha.
"He's just a child."
"An alien child."
"Exactly." Martha smiled at the boy. "Clark just needs to adjust to this world. Give him time."
"Clark can't even put the blocks in the right place!"
Martha sighed and helped him a little. When he put the rest away correctly, she gave her husband a smug glance.
