fic: Contingencies, 7/7

[xparrot]

And that's all she wrote! Well, of this. There will be more of others. Er. (I'm also vaguely tempted to do a follow-up to this, as the PG-13-ness of the resolution might frustrate...and the rest of the season might well frustrate even more, depending how it goes...but we'll see.)

I have to say thanks for the great reception this fic has gotten, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed all the comments. I wrote "Contingencies" out of a dissatisfaction with the way the series has taken the Clark-Lex relationship, however predestined; it seems I'm not alone in my sentiments. Whether or not the end is what you expected, I hope it doesn't disappoint!

Smallville: Contingencies, 7/7 {5,922 words}
PG-13; Clark/Lex; 6th season; angst, drama, h/c
Lex, forced to his last resort, comes to the Kent home, and Clark must rise to the occasion, as he finds himself questioning his assumptions about his dying enemy.

Read it on AO3

Comments

[aerynvala.livejournal.com]

awwwwwwwwwww *sniffles* That was terrific. I love that it wasn't...everything wasn't perfectly solved and miraculously healed. There's more growth and learning and trust still to come. And that hope of more is just awesome. God I loved this story!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it! ^_^ Yeah, I like leaving lots of room for them to grow from here...and they will!

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

This is one of those fics where I'd really love to see the kind of talks they'll have afterwards, the compromises they'll have to make.

I love Clark's decision to be friends even though they can't be allies. And I love that Lex doesn't accept Clark as Earth's sole defence.

Injecting the ship instead of the avatar was a cool twist :D

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

That's the advantage of setting it at this point in the rift, rather than later, because I think they could become allies. Lex is doing what he thinks is necessary, but he's not yet invested so much of his soul that he needs to keep going down his present path...Clark could divert him; I think Lex wants to be diverted, even, if a better way can be shown to him. It will take time to win Lex's trust, but I think Clark can do it. Not in one night, but eventually...(hope springs eternal!)

[danceswithgary]

I just loved this, beginning to end. Choices, it always comes down to choices. I adore Clark choosing to remain Lex's friend, no matter what. :-D

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, Clark should always make that choice, I think...

[lukita.livejournal.com]

Sorry, Pi is unavaliable right now, she'll get back to you as soon as she stopped running around the house shrieking "then they have sex" like an idiot. *beep*

[lukita.livejournal.com]

Ah~ Seriously. This is a really good way to end this, I love how even when Lex was dying he wanted to save Earth from the dangerous alien but then he gave Clark the deactivation code anyway. And I love Clark's choice in the end to want to be Lex's friend even if Lex doesn't. Dood, the fluffy ending made up for all that angst in the last six chapters. I won't say no to a follow up on this, but I think this is good enough as it stands. XD

[elandrialore.livejournal.com]

Awww, it was a lovely ending, and I'm so happy you didn't compromise anything about the boys beliefs:)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, I love them being together, but I love them being themselves, too...!

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

I told you this was going to be a story I'd remember forever, and it absolutely is. Brave Lex, stepping in to distract the avatar, to give Clark the chance to infect the ship. And then Lex giving the deactivation code when Clark couldn't, and telling him to leave before Luthorcorp security could arrive. And Clark declaring that he wouldn't ever hate Lex again -- that he'd consider Lex his friend even if Lex didn't return the feeling, but that he'd still try to stop Lex from doing things Clark thought were wrong. (Oh, a follow-up to that, with more exploring of boundaries between them, would be awesome.) Fantastic story, with a fantastic conclusion, and I fully expect to be squeeing for hours. Thanks so much for writing this! Will you be posting it to the SSA?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Eee, so glad you liked it to the finish! Yep, I had so much fun with them fighting together. And Clark, yes, this is the Clark I want to see...there's hints of him in the show, I want to see him come out as a real hero!

It's up on SSA now. And the follow-up, we'll see...(tempted to write Oliver & Co. coming after Lex personally and Clark protesting...)

[bonehed.livejournal.com]

Yes. And yes. Thank you.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! ^_^

[morganlilah.livejournal.com]

I stayed up late last night and kept refreshing my friends page just to see whether this chapter was already up and now it is. Yay! \o/

Also, now, I will always have this fic to comfort me should Nemesis turn out be a train wreck that's still all about Lana!

I'm also vaguely tempted to do a follow-up to this, as the PG-13-ness of the resolution might frustrate...

The ending was perfect! I wouldn't say no to more fics from this 'verse but I think Clark and Lex's détente was the best denouement, given where they were emotionally at the beginning of this story. I feel hopeful that they will be able to work things out.

"Today," Clark said, "you have no plans," and smiling, he pulled Lex outside into the sunlight.

Oh, my pretty boys. *gazes at them fondly as they walk away*

[morganlilah.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to add that I have seen Nemesis and it is made of win! Clark and Lex are also made of win! But you are the winningest of all.

I now believe in the power of fanfic to change the world show, one episode at a time. Now just remember to use your powers for good. :P

[issen4.livejournal.com]

Clark declares himself--and it strikes the perfect note. Lovely ending.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And yeah, where there's Clex, there's hope ^_^

[ladydreamer.livejournal.com]

Awww... that was the best ending! Yes, they should have different ideas about how to go about saving the world. And they need to help each other not to be monsters. That's for sure. :)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, they are always going to be one another's balance, they might as well do it as friends rather than enemies... ^_^

[supercaptain182.livejournal.com]

Fantastic from start to finish. The action was fast and well paced. I love that they can move past all of Lex's contingencies and move towards the way things used to be.

Excellent job!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad the action worked, I enjoy writing it now and again. And yeah, while they might never get back exactly what they once had together, they can have something as good again...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you found them realistic, and convincing in their evolution...I wanted to make the ending hopeful in a believable way. That way I can convince myself it could happen like this, even if in the show it never will...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[lastscorpion.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful fight scene! I love your Clark so much! This whole story has been incredibly wonderful. Thank you for writing it and putting it up!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I had a great time writing it, glad it was as fun to read! ^_^

[hangebokhan.livejournal.com]

O_O awesome~~~ is there going to be a sequel?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it! Sequel...I'll have to see. I have some ideas, but then I got so much else to do, too...Lex is too dang inspiring! ^^

[herohunter.livejournal.com]

I absolutely loved this story! I think that (even though I love it) sex would not have kept the flow of their starting anew--or maybe not anew, but over again. I would not have fit, unless you fast forwarded. But I'd LOVE to see a sequel with sex, and lots of it, hehe!

You painted a very realistic Lex, who does what's necessary instead of what's right, and a perfect Clark, struggling to understand the difference and look past his black and white views into Lex's world of gray.

Thanks so much for sharing this marvelous story, hon! It's already a classic!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Yeah, there wasn't a way to get the sex in there without breaking the story's feel. The sequel might happen (though I can't promise...I can't write PWP to save my life, really; the graphic scenes are not my forte ^^;)

[dogwoodblossom.livejournal.com]

That was a fantastic last line. Lex with no plans. Hehe.

I like that Lex doesn't "convert" to "good" at the end, he just decides to chill out a little.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Lex needs a vacation from his plans. A long one. He's got about a year's worth saved up, I'd say. But one day will have to do! ^_^

[morganichele.livejournal.com]

Perfect ending. This story was incredible, and I love the way you finished it...hopeful and honest. :-)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

So glad you liked it! ^_^

[romanyg.livejournal.com]

*is quietly stunned*

This story is just so compelling, flows from one word to the next. And what makes it so compelling is the *largeness* of this. These aren't just two guys who have problems, but two men who work to save the world and yet have such a different philosophy behind it.

Lex may go to Clark as a last resort, but Clark wants to keep that connection. They work so well together and I adore Clark's strength here. Lex might have the resolve but so does Clark, who manages to conquer his fears first because he does believe in the right thing--and he's so marvelously not weak about it.

And neither is your Lex. But he fears that personal connection to Clark as much as he fears an alien invasion. The cold-bastard bombs he lobs at Clark are an attempt to drive that away.

Even if they have just this one day, it's a start.

I happen to like that this stayed in the PG-13 zone; it served the story better.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, that's a huge part of the appeal of Clark/Lex to me, the epicness of their story. What they are to one another, no one else could be, because they are both absolutely unique, incredibly strong and yet terribly vulnerable, in their own ways. And they will always work together perfectly, when required.

I think it will be more than this one day, because I think Lex at this point is poised on the abyss's brink but hasn't quite stepped off, still able to see other paths, if Clark can shine a light on them...but I'm an optimist when it comes to the two of them. And much as I love seeing unequivocally happy endings with them, the ambiguity of their relationship will always be one of the biggest draws, so I like to preserve it - with hope, always, of course!

[tasabian.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous. I love how resolute Clark is at the end, reducing the situation to its simple truth: he wants to be Lex's friend again. Also love how much Lex wants to be forgiven, to be embraced back into Clark's world. It's very fitting that the story ends with Clark pulling Lex into the sunlight.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

So glad you enjoyed it! And yes, Clark bringing Lex into the light...I struggled with the last line a bit, until I realized it really had to go like that; it's what Clark wants to do, and must succeed at, because he is Superman, after all!

That was perfect....

[greenlady2.livejournal.com]

... perfect just the way it is. A sex scene would have been out of place, somehow. It's not that sort of story.

I loved Lex standing over Clark, defending him. And Clark injecting the ship. Perfect. They still have a lot to work out, and maybe they'll never be in complete accord. They're too different -- but also too alike.

Great story!

Re: That was perfect....

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, I would've included some sex if it really would have fit, but it didn't, so...

And maybe they won't ever totally agree, no, but they'll be there standing together to save the world next time, and always, and that's what matters, to both of them, in the end!

[yma2.livejournal.com]

Beautiful ending to a wonderful story. Loved the female Brainiac and the interplay between the boys. Excellent plotting, brilliant characterisation, beautiful writing.
Really great!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

So glad you enjoyed it! The Brainiac was fun - I love writing reprehensible bad guys!

[writer-azzie.livejournal.com]

Very very good...Loved it!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[aditu_az]

I think this may well be the best piece of fanfiction I've read....

*tries to come up with a scheme to for you to be in charge of season 7...*

Seriously, it's amazing, I never comment on things!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much! I really appreciate knowing you enjoyed it (I'm often terrible about commenting on things myself, and I know how much I enjoy the stories I do comment on, so, yes, it's a terrific compliment!)

And heh, if you figure out a way for the writers to hire me, I'd so sign on!