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It was an unusual sight at the Watchtower. Superman was pacing outside the door of the medbay mumbling to himself in worry. The other members of the Justice League either stared at him, glared at him, or (most of them) straight up ignored his existence as they walked by.
Clark wasn’t upset at all about the lack of attention and contact he was receiving. He had more pressing matters to be concerned about. His cousin, Kara, had somehow opened the locked safe filled with Kryptonite in his room while he hadn’t been around. When he got home from work, she was barely responsive.
Clark could only count on one hand the amount of people on Earth familiar with Kryptonian Biology. But there was only one person that he could trust to help his cousin recover.
Lex.
Lex Luthor.
His nemesis.
Even though they weren’t friends or exactly on the best of terms, he knew that Lex would help out someone in need. Especially a child. In his Kal-El/Superman suit, Clark broke into the Watchtower to find him. He carried his cousin along with him to instantly get her care once he found Lex.
Lex was surprised and so were all the members of the Justice League. They had immediately went on defense before they saw how distraught Superman was. And that he was holding a child like the most precious thing he had.
Clark explained the situation and Lex was took him to the medbay. It was there where Clark could see the preliminary tests Lex gave to her and check up. As soon as he was done and had left the medbay area. Lex’s disarming smile was replaced with a look of pure concerned.
His nemesis turned and gave him his documents of the together. It was bad and she needed some surgery. There was a small fight but Clark reluctantly left the room and stayed in the hallways.
‘Just what I need. To be gawked at by the Justice League.’
The heroes all had misgivings on him staying there. They have every right to be. But Bruce, Batman, let him stay to watch over his cousin. As long as he didn’t try going into the restricted areas of the tower. Clark was fine with that as it wasn’t as important as Kara being okay. He stood in front of the door incase of anything. Clark would be ready.
Finally, after what felt like days(but was really a few hours), Kara walked or rather floated out the door. The young Kryptonian girl didn’t get a word out before her cousin immediately hugged her tight.
“Thank Rao, you’re okay.”, Clark said as he held her and kept kissing her forehead. Tears were spilling out.“I was so scared that you weren’t going to make it.”
He rubbed his cheek against Kara’s head. “Thank you so much, Lex. Thank you”
“No-no problem, Superman.”, Lex said slightly disturbed at seeing one of his greatest villains crying and acting somewhat hysterical. And also the lack of referring to him as ‘Luthor’. “Just doing my thing.”
Barry, who ran into the scene, stop just short of where Lex was and saw the display. Turning towards his friend with wide eyes, the speedster pointed towards Clark.
“Is he good?”, Barry asked as the male Kryptonian was rocking back and forth while holding his cousin in his arms like he was afraid to let go. Lex made a face and shook his head.
“Kara, why did you do this? I thought I told you to stop going through my things.”
Kara’s eyes began to tear up. Her voice sounded like she was about to start sobbing. “It’s because you won’t stop doing it to yourself, Clark.”
Barry and Lex looked at each other confused and mouthed the name ‘Clark’.
“I see what you do to yourself,”, Kara continued. Both Kryptonians focused on only each other. “before you think I’m not around. Those stones hurt you. Really hurt you, but you keep them near you when I’m not around.”
“I wake up and see blood stains on you pillow case because you sleep with that ring on like you can’t live without it.”, Kara’s voice cracked even more and the real waterworks began. “I get scared that one day you won’t be here anymore and it’s because of those dang stones.”
Straight silence came from everyone at the confession. The two heroes in the back looked worried and concern about the revelation and Clark’s face was stunned and he just stared at his cousin.
The male Kryptonian blink and held her more tightly. “Oh Kara. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”, He moved his hand to look at her face. Her crying didn’t stop and she kept turning her head. “Look at me. Look at me. I promise to I won’t ever do it again. I swear I’ll get rid of all of those stones, okay? I want and am going to be there for you. I promise.
Kara sniffed and held up her pinky finger. “Pinky promise?”, she asked. Her eyes and tone were more hopeful now and the tears slowly stopped. Clark softly smiled at her.
“Pinky promise.”
“Can I race with Barry now?”, Kara asked excitedly. She seemed much better now and was twirling around above the floor. “I want to see if he’s really the fastest man alive.”
“Uh,”, Clark looked at the Flash who was in shock of having his secret identity revealed by a 12 year old. “Sure.”, he said unsure. “That is if he wants to.”
Barry snapped out of it. “Of course, little lady. You’re on.” Then he ran with Kara following closely behind. When the two were gone, the Kryptonian turned towards his cousin’s savior. Lex looked at him with concern.
“What did she mean by that? Why do you have Kryptonite in your house?”
Clark turned his face away to face the empty vacuum of space. “Let’s just say that I went through some things as a kid that would make even the Joker say damn. And it’s just how I cope.”
“What things?”, Lex pressed. He had a feeling that he definitely didn’t want to know but continued anyways to collect information.
“Stuff no one should go through.”, Clark said darkly. He faced away before looking back and continuing with an obviously forced cheerful tone. “But look, it doesn’t matter now. It happened and it’s over.”
“Just because it’s over and done doesn’t mean it didn’t matter.”, Lex grabbed Clark’s hand. It was warm but it felt as heavy as a deadman’s cold hand. “It does.”
Clark’s face turned red as a beet. He wasn’t used to affection given out freely from other people with the exception being Kara, and his mom. Everyone else that knew him in his personal life didn’t bother with contact like that.
“Right.”, he quietly like he didn’t really believe him but wanted appease Lex. His nemesis frowned.
“I’m serious, Kal. It does and I wish there was a way I could show you.”
“Kal?”, Clark questioned uncertainly. Lex tried to take his hand away but Clark’s grip tighten just enough so the he couldn’t do so. The Kryptonian stared into Lex’s eyes as if to look at his soul. It unnerved the hero just a little bit.
“Well, it’s just that you’ve been calling me Lex today,”, he stammered. Lex’s eye looked everywhere but what was in front of him. “and I thought…”, he trailed off.
Clark huffed amused. “No no it’s fine. I don’t really mind.” He squeezed Lex’s hand slightly and let go. Lex blushed at the gestured.
“Lex,”, Clark drawled out as if to taste the name on his lips. “Uh could you, could you do me another favor please?”
“Yes?”
The Kryptonian took out a piece of paper and pen. “Could you write a doctor’s note to Kara’s school on why she was absent today? And one for my job?”
“You have a job?”
Clark chuckled. “I have to eat and pay bills somehow.” Then more quietly he added, “And Kara deserves a more or less stable life.”
Lex scribbled on the paper. “Here.”, he said as he handed the pad of paper and pen back to Clark. “I put everything you need and gave them a burner number to do any “confirmations”. I know you like your privacy and generally don’t like us messing with it.”
“Thank you.”, Clark said in a way that you could tell he was genuine. He seemed very happy at that moment and Lex couldn’t stop himself from smiling at his nemesis.“And I promise not to trying anything for a month.”
“A month?”
“Okay, three weeks.”
“Kal, you can’t be serious.”
“Two weeks.”
Silence followed in response.
“One week?”
Lex stared judgmental.
“In three days?”, Clark’s tone began to increase in incredulously. The judgmental stare continued.
“Tomorrow?!”
“Today?!!”
“I wasn’t planning for anything villainess to be done today, Lex. But if you really want me to do something then you got to give me at least 10 minutes to set up for a fight in the city..
Unable to continue to bear witness to this display, Lex pinched the bridge of his nose. Sometimes he really had to wondered about him. “No, just, don’t do anything too damaging in a month or so.”
Clark visibly relaxed. For what reason, Lex did not know. Grinning, the Kryptonian said, “That I can do.”
A loud crash suddenly echo through the halls. Clark frowned. “Guess that’s my cue to leave with Kara before Br-Batman’s hospitality runs out. “
“Yeah.”, Lex agreed with the Batman portion of that comment. He didn’t really want Clark to go. “I guess you’re right.”
“Then this is it?”
“Yep. Until we meet again, Kal.”
“Until we meet again, Lex.”, Clark waved and began to walk. Before he turned the corner, Lex called out.
“Hey, Kal?”
“Hmm?”
”Uh nothing. Stay safe out there?”
Clark smiled. “Yeah, you too.”, then he flew away to get his cousin.