Chapter Text
Lex can’t help it if by now he’s worn a groove into the floor. His hands clasped behind his back while his eyes are cast downwards as he paces back and forth, his antsy behaviour doing little to calm the man watching him.
“Lex, honestly man you’re stressing me out more right now than Kon is.” Slade turns his head to the side to take his eye off of Lex, trying to ignore that audible squawk of indignation he hears as he does. Slade’s tone came across overly dull given the circumstances and right now Lex isn’t exactly in the headspace to be a ‘rational’ adult.
“How could I possibly be more stressing than Kon?! He’s fucking missing, Slade!” Lex’s anxiety is on full display as he stops midstride to turn and look towards Slade. Dark bags stain the underside of his eyes while his messied auburn hair is pushed back hastily, the strands that fall onto his face far too overstimulating to ignore right now. “Our son is missing!!” Lex’s voice cracks but he ignores the slip, subconsciously hoping that he’s going to be soothed by Slade but that’s far from the response he gets.
“I know he’s missing Lex, but the kid is fucking bulletproof! Just two nights ago he flew into a burning building and the only thing that was even singed was his damn jacket!” Slade’s frankness probably came across far harsher than he meant it to but the bodyguard can’t really bring himself to care. His own nerves and exhaustion are weighing down his filter right now.
“That’s not the point, Slade! I don’t like Conner being out without us and this is the third time he’s snuck off! It’s 4 am and we have no idea where he is!” Lex’s words lower, his next sentence being barely muttered above a whisper, “But I’m not shocked you don’t care…”
“OH FUCK YOU!” Slamming his fist on the table, Slade kicks his chair out from under himself as he stands up suddenly, a threatening glare now being directed squarely at Lex. He ignores the flinch he sees as he continues. “I DO care about Conner! From day ONE I’ve loved him! He’s my son by any measure and if anybody else had said that to me their brains would be painting these fucking walls!” Slade’s booming voice echoes off the walls and floor-to-ceiliing windows that surround them.
“Slade, I-” Lex starts but his mouth snaps shut when Slade cuts him off.
“No! Lex, you woke me up in the middle of the night and told me Kon was missing! We both scoured the city and now we’ve been waiting here in your office to see if your hail mary pays off! I love that kid and I’m not gonna sit here and let you tell me that I don't care about him just because I’m not pissing my pants like you because he’s missing!” Slade runs his hand through his hair as he tries to calm himself. He’s been holding it together so well—in his mind he has anyway—but now he’s about at his breaking point. “Lex, the little shit threw me through the wall yesterday during training! I-I was so damn proud of him!” Slade’s tired face manages a half smile as a weak chuckle leaves him. “I-I can’t imagine anything bad happening to him but…but I…” Words that barely leave Slade’s lips hang heavily in the air as he tries to find his voice again.
Lex’s furrowed brows relax and the fist he had clenched at his side releases, his hand trembling as he reaches out towards Slade as if the stark distance between them doesn’t exist. This is the first time since they got to his office that he’s gotten a proper look at Slade’s face and not only is the exhaustion plain to see but so is the sorrow that he’s managed to hide thus far. The storm clouds in the sky had parted just enough for a few stray beams of moonlight to shine into the dark room and illuminate his partner tragically. The view before him is enough to cause Lex’s heart to break for the second time tonight.
Slade’s shoulders shake lightly, his face buried in his left hand as tries to obscure his worry. Despite the distance between them, Lex can clearly see Slade’s tearstained cheeks through the white fringe that’s shielding the rest of Slade’s face. Lex crosses the room to him, his hand finding Slade’s good arm as tries to gently coax Slade to face him.
In all his worry for their son, Lex hadn’t realized that he’d actually been relying on Slade’s nonchalantness to carry him through this. Each time Lex would start to spiral about Conner’s unknown location, Slade’s practically rampant indifference would snap Lex out of his worry just enough for him to get annoyed with Slade. That cycle continued until the pair found themselves waiting in Lex’s office while another extraterrestrial force continued the search for them. That left the two of them here with nothing but their worries and fear to fill the air.
“Slade…” Lex speaks with a quiet voice that’s laced with nothing but concern as he watches Slade. He doesn’t know what to say but what he does know is that he needs Slade to understand that they’re in this together. They are both just two parents waiting with bated breath for their son to return to them.
“Lex, I’m just so worried about him…I-I know, I know for a fact that he can’t get hurt! But…” Slade’s voice wavers as he sucks in a sharp breath before he continues. “I-I’m so scared…I can’t stand him being out there without us right now.”
“I know…I-I am too. And as much as I hate it…right now it’s out of our hands. It’s in his.” Lex doesn’t even bother trying to hide the disdain that surrounds that final word as he speaks.
Slade can’t argue. He knows Lex is right. Their son is out doing god knows what in the dark of the night and the two of them can’t do a damn thing about it to bring him back.
Lex rubs his hand against Slade’s good arm, hoping that any contact might offer even the most miniscule amount of comfort right now. Lex moves to rest his head against Slade’s shoulder, Slade shifting his stance to make it a little easier on the shorter male, while the pair say nothing at all. Slade’s shaking shoulders slowly cease their erratic movements, he turns his head and takes in slow deep breaths as his nose grazes over Lex’s messy auburn hair.
The lingering scent of Lex’s body wash that doubles as his shampoo dampers Slade’s nerves briefly. He can—even if it’s just for a fleeting moment— close his eye and pretend he’s back home in bed with Lex. Pretend that they’re all safe and sound. Pretend that Conner is simply playing video games in the living room or sleeping in his bedroom.
Lex is doing something similar. As he rests his eyes, he leans more against Slade’s strong frame and he gets a sudden whiff of the laundry detergent that they use. He hadn’t even realized that Slade was still in the clothes he’d worn to bed that night. The dark blue plaid fabric of Slades’ pants had actually looked black in the dark room and the graphic on the old band tee so faded that Lex can’t even recognize it right now. With his eyes closed, the familiar scent that's tickling his nose and the warmth Slade’s sharing practically lulls him into a false sense of temporary comfort.
The pair stay frozen as they lie to themselves and to each other.
They can pretend that everything is fine.
But they both know it’s a lie.
One that’s broken as a strike of lightning splits across the sky and it’s quickly followed by a loud crack of thunder that rolls atop the dark clouds. Slade slowly opens his eye to look out towards the window, heavy drops of rain hitting the panes of glasses before they roll down, what little light that bleeds in reflecting off of them briefly. Lex only opens his eyes when he hears a soft croak from Slade and feels the aforementioned male’s chest heave as his breath hitches. A lump forming in Lex’s own throat when he turns to look out the window.
Shillouted against the darkness of the storm clouds that suffocate the night sky are two floating figures. A cape billowing out from behind one of them that catches the treacherous gales of wind that sweep through the city of tomorrow. The edge of the cape swipes upwards behind the two as another bolt of lightning illuminates the sky behind them. Their darkened heads slowly rising to look into the office, two bright crimson circles adorn each of their faces as they focus in on Lex and Slade.
“Lex…” Slade’s voice is low as he practically whispers into Lex’s ear, somehow the utterance of the short name harbours so much confusion and apprehension.
Lex, however, has a vastly different reaction to the scene.
Lex breaks from his pose with Slade and rushes towards his desk, practically ripping off one of the drawers as he searches for a remote. His fingers graze the metal of the control before it’s grasped tightly in his hand as he yanks it out of the desk drawer. He presses one of the unlabeled buttons as he points it towards the window. One of the panes at the end of the window slowly retracts into the wall, the wind and rain from the outside find the newly exposed entrance and happily welcome themselves in. Rain pools on the floor at the edge of the wall as the two figures slowly turn their gaze towards the new opening.
Slade rushes to Lex’s side only for the smaller man to run to the window to yell something out of it. Between Lex’s exhausted state and the roaring storm outside, his horse voice barely reaches the two shadowed beings but it echoes in the office.
“GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE NOW!!”
The smaller of the two flyers flinches when Lex yells and starts to back away but the larger of the two puts a hand on his back, holding him in grasp as they move towards the window.
Slade goes and grabs Lex by the back of the shirt, pulling the tired man back in from the opening before he’s either forced out by the strong pulls of the winds or before he simply slips on the water and falls out.
It’s then that the two men finally enter their topfloor CEO office that Lex and Slade have been occupying for the better part of two hours.
Conner enters first, his black hair wet as it clings to the side of his head, a weak smile plastered on his face as he looks towards the waiting men. Clark follows close behind him, his large hand wiping his sodden hair out of his face as he lets out a soft shiver. Even if the change in temperature wasn’t exactly uncomfortable for him, it doesn’t mean that he didn’t notice it. Clark takes the briefest moment to look back out the open window before it starts to close, his attention suddenly shifting elsewhere as he hears two panicked voices cry out.
“Conner!” “Kon!”
Conner is immediately enveloped in a hug from both men. Lex’s lanky arms wrap around his son’s tall frame as Slade drapes his one good arm over the shoulders. Conner accepts it, his arms coming up to hug Lex back while he reciprocates the slight head nuzzle he’s getting from Slade. Unbothered by the wetness or shrill cold, the pair hold their son tightly. Slade presses a kiss to the side of the teens head, his shoulders once again shaking but this time it’s accompanied by happy tears.
“You better never, ever, do that again! We were so worried about you!” What should have been anger is instead replaced by relief…and that’s absolutely terrifying to the young clone considering it’s coming from Slade.
“Are you alright?! Are you hurt? What happened? Where were you?! Are you alright?!” Lex is the first to break their embrace. He pulls himself back as he inspects his son. Checking his arms, his face, everything as he looks for any sign of injury Conner could have. But what betrays Lex’s words of worry is the way he asks. His questions are laced with outrage but it seems like he’s managing to keep it down...for now.
“Dad! Pops! Knock it off! I’m fine!” Conner tries to pull himself from Slade’s still firm hold and Lex’s searching hands and prying eyes.
Slade reluctantly lets go, pulling back to stand near Lex as he looks Conner over for himself. His amber eye wide, the sides of his face still tear stained from earlier, and his face far too soft for Conner’s liking. Lex on the other hand has his arms crossed over his chest, his grey eyes jumping from place to place on Conner’s body like he’s taking a mental inventory.
It’s then the realization hits him.
“OH FUCK NO!” Conner jumps, his body staying in the air as he looks down at the pair, his face eyes wide and his jaw clenched as he watches his fathers. “Clark, take me back!! Slade’s been crying! That’s how I know I’m in deep shit!!”
“You’re not going anywhere! Conner, feet, floor, now!” Lex points at the ground as he barks out that order, Slade taking the chance to wipe his face quickly before he throws a glare at Clark, practically begging the big blue jackass to do something, not like Slade could do anything about it given his current state but still, it makes him feel better. Clark’s hands shoot up defensively as he softly shakes his head, trying to show he has no intention to do anything.
“Conner, maybe…maybe listen to your…dad?” Clark can’t lie, it sounds very weird to say that aloud. He’s still unsure how he feels about the whole ‘Oh, Superboy is a clone of you that Lex Luthor made using your DNA and his own. And by the way he’s raising the clone as his own son with him and his totally evil not evil boyfriend that’s tried to kill you before.’ but Lex reached out for help when he couldn’t find Conner…And Clark can’t say he doesn’t have affection for the kid and it’s not like Lex would do that lightly.
Conner sighs softly before he slowly floats down, his wet boots making the softest tap against the floor as he lands. His bright eyes cast towards the floor, his gaze focusing on the small drops of water that fall from his hair as he waits to be berated but it doesn’t happen. He was fully expecting Lex and Slade to start chewing himi out the second he came home. They had to be pissed off if they got Clark involved.
“Kon, you’re sure you’re alright?” Slade’s words are far too soft for comfort. Conner is used to Slade being the brash one, the overly gentle way he’s speaking is far scarier than if Slade was to just yell at him.
“Yeah…I’m fine, Pops…” Conner looks up to Slade with a soft smile, trying to elicit any sympathy he can from Lex who he knows is watching him like a hawk right now.
As he watches from a distance, Clark can’t help but match that smile. It’s actually really reassuring to see Slade of all people be so gentle and caring. Too bad it only lasts for a few seconds.
Slade slaps the back of Conner’s head with his good side as hard as he can before he yells.
“THEN WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?! SNEAKING OUT LIKE THAT, ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?!”
Conner takes the hit like it’s nothing, squawking out as he reaches up to rub the back of his head while he pouts. It didn’t hurt. Everyone there knows it didn’t hurt but like hell if he’s not going to try to gain some semblance of sympathy. Mostly from Clark, which to Conner’s credit, does sort of work.
“Hey! Slade, come on don’t hit hi-”
“Stay out of this, Kent!” Now it’s Lex’s turn to snip. He reaches up roughly and grabs ahold of one of Conner’s ears, tugging the boy down—well Conner let’s him tug him—just enough to hold some remnant of authority over his kid.
“AH! Dad! Let go! This is embarrassing!” Conner’s head is ducked lightly but he’s able to turn it just enough to the side to look at Clark for help. “Dad Two, help! See how they treat me?!”
“DAD TWO?!” Lex and Slade couldn’t have said that in such perfect unison again if they practiced for a hundred years.
“Come on you two…It-it was a joke! Conner, tell them it was a joke…please!” Despite the strength he could easily have over the two men, Clark does flinch when he sees the new round of death glares coming from Conner’s parents.
“AHH! DAD! Ear!” Conner begs again and this time Lex does actually let go just so he can point at Clark.
“You!” Lex starts, his arm shakes angrily as he points while his brow furrows as he looks at Clark. A heavy sigh comes from him as his shoulders drop and he brings his hand to face as he rubs his eyes tiredly. “I-I guess…I guess I have to say thank you…You-You did find him…” Lex spits through clenched teeth.
“I-Oh! Yeah, uh…I-I guess you’re…welcome?” Clark asks as he gently shrugs his shoulder and a nervous smile spreads across his face.
Lex’s nails dig into his palm as he makes his hands into his fists when he hears Clark’s far too saccharine laugh but he tries to bury his disdain for the man.
“Anyway!” Slade snaps, his eye gives Clark a quick hate filled updown before he looks back to his son. “You are so fucking grounded!”
“Aww man…” Conner huffs as he pouts, his arms crossing over his chest in a begrudging acceptance.
Lex watches Slade before giving Conner another quick onceover and then he turns back towards Clark.
“Where was he and what was he doing?” Lex crosses over to Clark, seemingly uncaring of the size and power difference between them as he demands answers. Answers that apparently Conner doesn’t want them to know.
“NOTHING!” The teen realizes that almost certainly not the tone someone who was doing nothing would use so he clears his throat before he tries again. “I was doing nothing! Just…chilling. I wanted to get some air.” It’s a bold face lie and everyone there knows it.
“You wanted to get some air at like 3 in the morning when it’s storming?” Lex doesn’t even turn back to look at Conner as he asks.
“We’re putting a fucking tracker in him!” Slade demands, arm up in the air as he yells to the room.
“He already has one! That’s how we knew he was in Gotham but this jackass could get him quicker than we possibly could!” Lex snaps, throwing his thumb back towards Clark who looks mildly hurt at the rudeness.
“I don’t want another tracker!”
“I’m not a jackass…And I-I don’t think you should put a tracker on him! It’s kinda messed up…Just_Just if you’re reading the room about it…” Clark fiddles with the hem of his cape as he speaks, gulping again when Lex glares up at him again.
“Shut up, Clark.”
“Why-why did you say my name like it was a slur…?”
“Because it is one.” Slade says from across the room, his hand now resting on Conner’s shoulder to implore the teen not to try and run away again.
“Aww, come on guys that’s just kinda mean…”
“Shut the fuck up, Clark.”
Clark looks down at Lex like a kicked puppy. He knows Lex doesn’t like him but he genuinely thought that through exposure therapy with him Lex might be just a little less aggressive over time but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“You guys should be nicer to Clark. He’s chill” Conner starts, his eyes looking from Lex’s shocked expression back to Slade’s disgusted one before he finally lands on Clark’s who just gives him a pleasant smile.
“Aww…Thanks, Conner.”
“SHUT UP CLARK!” “SHUT IT!” The in sync grievances only earn a sad hrm from Clark and a slight cackle from Conner.
“Everybody knock it off!” Lex demands, stamping his foot on the ground to cry and gather the collective attention of the room back to him. “I still haven’t gotten an answer from Conner. Or you.” Another quick glare is thrown at Clark. “On where exactly he was.” Lex finishes as he turns back to look at Conner who looks surprisingly close to breaking.
“I was…doing…drugs?” Conner practically asks the room if that’s a good excuse before Slade slaps the back of his head again.
“Conner!” Clark, believing him for some damn reason, scolds. “You do not need to be doing drugs!”
“He wasn’t doing fucking drugs, he’s lying! His body composition is resistant to them! They wouldn’t do anything to him even if he was telling the truth!” Slade corrects in such a tone that makes it sound like he’s scolding Clark for not knowing that about his son, even though there would be no way for Clark to know that beforehand.
“Conner Luthor, why were you in Gotham?” Lex finally turns to look at Conner, his hands clasped behind his back as he walks towards back over to Conner and Slade. Clark floating close behind unintentionally, interested enough in the answer to approach without second guessing if he should be involved in the conversation to begin with.
“I…God damn, it!” Conner whines, rolling his eyes before he pouts more.
“Conner, language!” Clark interjects, much to Lex’s chagrin and Slade’s annoyance.
“Don’t you police my son’s language!” Lex gripes, jumping slightly when he realizes just how close Clark is.
“Yeah! You fucking asshole!” Slade complains, only to lightly slap the back of Conner’s head again. “But watch your fucking language, Kon.”
“You swear way worse than me!”
“Conner, answer the question. Where were you and what were you doing?” Lex demands, his eyes landing on Conner’s face as he’s ready to scan his son’s face for any sign of deceit.
“I…I was meeting somebody…”
A collective of ‘Huhs?!’ fill the room as the three adults look at Conner.
“What do you mean you were meeting someone!? You don’t know people!” Lex’s eyes are wide as he tries to wrap his head around what Conner just admitted to him.
“Conner, I didn’t think Lex let you go into Gotham to help people…How did you meet somebody in Gotham of all places?”
“Wait wait, you two dorks are missing context here.” Slade starts, his hand on Conner’s shoulder turning his son to look up at him more. “Conner, what kind of meeting someone was this?”
The blush that dusts Conner’s cheeks gives it away instantly.
Slade’s expression instantly changes. His concern turns to pure elation. His eye brightens and a wide grin spreads across his face.
“Oh fuck yeah! My boy was getting pussy!!” Slade’s voice practically echoes off the walls as he laughs happily.
“Slade! He’s way too young for that!!”
“I-I kind of agree with you on this, Lex…”
“I do not need you to agree with me!” Lex shouts, his eye twitches as he looks at Slade and Conner, unsure of who to be more upset with at this moment. Conner for already seeking…realtionships… or Slade for seemingly condoning it. “Slade!! Stop it! He’s way too young for this sort of thing! He’s not ready for girls!”
“Fuck that, Lex! Our boy was sneaking out to meet a girl, how can I not be fucking proud?! Just cause you two didn’t get your cherry popped till late college doesn’t mean Conner shouldn’t have fun! God, I’m so fucking proud of you! You better be using condoms, all I’m gonna say. How’d ya meet her, huh?” Slade prattles off excitedly, almost a little too ecstatic that Conner’s already exploring things.
“Slade, Conner shouldn’t have a girlfriend yet!”
“I-I also think it’s way too early.” Clark steps in, trying to get a read on the direction the energy in the room is going to take but failing.
“Nobody asked you, farm boy!” Slade quips back before he sees the look Lex is giving him. “What, Lexi? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Pretty soon all three adults are going back and forth. Lex argues that it’s too soon for Conner to date anyone but being annoyed that Clark is on his side while Slade is annoyed that neither of them are excited for their son to have found someone. It also doesn’t help that Clark keeps overstepping. Even going so far as to call Conner his ‘sort of son too.’
“Slade, he is not ready for a girlfriend!”
“Lex, why are you taking Clark’s side! He doesn’t get a say in our son!”
“Isn’t he kind of mine too…? I mean he has my DNA and he is my clone!”
“That is not the conversation we are having right now! He is our son, Clark! Mine and Slade’s!”
“Yeah! And I say MY SON can have a girlfriend!”
The bickering continues before Conner breaks it with a rousing declaration.
“IT’S NOT A GIRL!!”
…
…
“...FUCK YEAH, MY SON GOT SOME DICK!”
“SLADE!!”