For Roger

[capable_of]

It was nearing the end of the school term and Lex felt the need to celebrate. Teaching had given him a surprising rush since it gave him the opportunity to talk about all the history he'd loved to study as a child and not just while trying to make a point to Clark. He'd never considered teaching before, not that he'd even been giving the choice, but he was glad he'd given it a try. He hoped his students had enjoyed the term as much as he had and he was honestly looking forward to doing it again next term.

With the end of term, Lex wanted to celebrate. Normally celebration meant a night in with vodka and chess but Lex wanted to take Anatoly out instead this time. Anatoly had mentioned a friend of his played at the Willows Room so after leaving Aeneas with Ms. Sandsmark and dressing Anatoly in a proper suit, they left for a night at the club. They'd secured a table amid the small gathered crowd and settled in to listen to Anatoly's friend play. Lex had to admit, he was rather good, even if it was far cry from the music he would normally listen too.

After the first set, while Anatoly was getting them drinks from the bar, Lex moved to head upstairs quickly to say hello to Helen, knowing she wouldn't forgive him if he'd been there and didn't say anything to her, even if they weren't in her part of the club. As he returned, the musician was mulling around the performance space and if he was a friend of Anatoly's, Lex figured he should be polite. "That was quite a performance." He said with a friendly smile as he walked over.

Comments

[one--song.livejournal.com]

"He seems to be everywhere I am," Roger said, shrugging noncommittally. "He talks about chess and I... laugh that he's talking about Chess." Roger chuckled. "I've seen you lots of times. Surprised we haven't talked until now." This talking thing was getting easier. And he wasn't even drunk.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex couldn't help a small chuckle as well. "He does think of only Chess sometimes." He said, unable to hide the fondness in his voice. Then he added with his own amusement, "we're...working on that." Then he nodded at Roger's comment about have seen him, wanting to gauge his reaction to what he said next. "Yes, Anatoly has pointed you out before. Your the one who looks like Trumper."

[one--song.livejournal.com]

Roger snapped his fingers. "That's how we met!" he recalled. "He rounded on me. Called me 'Freddie.' I was freaked out because like... you know the clone thing exists but when you find out there's another you." He shook his head. "If he'd been a dick about it, I probably wouldn't cope."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"Believe me, I've had experience with it." Lex couldn't help the dark note in his voice. Of course, he'd been accused of being a clone of himself, which was different then what Roger was talking about it, but the sentiment was the same. And that didn't even touch on this completely 'other' Lex Luthor who those spandex heroes thought he was. He tried not to think about it. "it's not pleasant to think about, I know."

[one--song.livejournal.com]

It was then that Roger wondered what kind of Lex this one was. He was... well, he was cute. And not gnarled. And not evil except for some eerie kind of power that radiated from him like warmth did from Anatoly. Maybe he was just Lex before all of the evil. Or maybe Lex Luthor as he was written was vastly misunderstood -- like Elphie.

"Weird fucking place," Roger mused, looking down to discover his drink was empty. He swirled the empty glass. "I like it, though."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

At that Lex, smile relaxed. "Yes, so I do." He paused for a moment, before admitting with a small laugh. "I've never felt more free."

He glanced over to see that the person who had been talking to Anatoly had left and the Russian was looking around the crowd. Figuring he had better rescue him, Lex stood up from where he'd been leaning against the bar. "I think I better return to Anatoly before he thinks he's been abandoned. It was nice to meet you Mr. Davis."