Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Helen, Clark/Lex
Length: Approx. 10,700
Author on LJ:
rhiannonheroAuthor's website:
Rhiannon RaveWhy this must be read:
One of the themes of the show was how untrustworthy Jonathan Kent deemed the Luthors. He was of course scared that they would find out about his son and use their wealth and influence to ruin his life. He was also concerned about the age difference between Clark and Lex; that Lex would use his extra years and life experience to manipulate Clark into spilling his secrets or other unnamed horrors. This story shows how easy that would have been for Lex to do, if he had put his mind to it. Clark is very young and naive at the start of the show and he doesn't have much life experience to be able to know when he is being maneuvered. The irony is, it isn't Lex who winds up manipulating him in this story. It is Helen.
She shifted toward Clark and went for broke. "I don't know if I can make it, Clark. I really don't." She summoned her best skills and managed a convincing sob. "I can't go on without him. I need his strength. I miss him. I--I--" She was crying hysterically now and if it wouldn't have messed up the entire scene, she would have stopped to applaud. Damn, she had almost convinced herself.
"Oh God. Oh, Dr. Br--Luthor." Clark's arms flapped uselessly for a moment and then he pulled her close. She let herself sob softly on his shoulder and listened as he soothed her. "Shh. Shh, Dr. Luthor. Lex wouldn't want you to be so unhappy."
Helen cried for several minutes until she felt that the point had been made. She pulled away shyly, wiping at her eyes and smiling with some embarrassment.
So, go here and enjoy.