Fic: Benefits (Smallville / Heroes)
Sep. 22nd, 2007 11:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bagheera_sanThis kinda sprang out of my head fully formed. Dunno if it's any good. Also, I've realized that obviously my OTP in this fandom is neither Sylar/Mohinder nor Claude/Peter, it's Bennet/Claude, but there's no slash in here.
Title: Benefits
Rating: PG, some swearing
Fandom: Smallville / Heroes crossover
Spoilers: This is set shortly after Heroes S1 and somewhat after Smallville S6 and contains spoilers for both. It's futurefic and plays around with potential allegiance shifts amongst the Heroes cast, particularly Mr Bennet's.
Characters: Lex, Mr Bennet, Claude
It's the kind of irony Lex doesn't appreciate. All throughout Lionel's funeral, he feels exactly as angry, powerless and frustrated as his father routinely made him feel.
It wasn't Lex who had him killed. He has no damn idea who offed the old monster, except that they were extremely efficient.
Lionel has inherited Lex quite a bit, which isn't surprising. Some parts, especially the information Lionel has horded like the old miser he was deep down, is salient enough to distract Lex. The quantity of what Lionel has kept to himself is rather surprising, but he doesn't get much further than browsing through the files on what appears to be the most promising flash drive when suddenly, a man materializes in his office.
"Don't be alarmed, Mr Luthor," he says, but something about the cold stare from behind horn-rimmed glasses is distinctly alarming, even more so than his unexpected appearance. "My partner and I are here to make you… a business offer."
The bespectacled man wears a neat suit and a boring tie, and he carries a suitcase that is much more modern than his old-fashioned glasses. He does look like businessman, enough to make Lex switch from one survival mode to another. At the same time, his mind is racing: this man is clearly an employee, and he is clearly a mutant. Who else besides Lex employs them?
"Your partner?" he questions, glancing around the room.
The smile is tiny and entirely humourless. "He prefers to stay invisible, particularly after the glance into your laboratories we recently had."
The man moves towards Lex's desk, lifting the suitcase and resting it on the edge. "Your father was a Company man, Mr Luthor." He waits a moment, then adds, "I can see this means nothing to you."
"Who are you working for?"
"Yamagato Industries," the man says. That rings a bell. Lex remembers a trip to Japan with his father, and it hits him sudden and unexpectedly. It wasn't a nice trip, not really, but it was back before the meteors, back before Julian. His Dad's assistant taught him a few words Japanese on the plane, and Lionel, for once, was pleased with Lex. He also remembers sitting in a Japanese restaurant, on tatami mats around a low table, and thinking that the owner of Yamagato Industries, Mr Nakamura, had to be the one person on the planet scarier than his own Dad. Nakamura had daughter about Lex's age, and a son a few years younger than Lex, a cheerful kid…
The sudden stream of memory must have been evident on Lex's face, because the man nods, and for the first time seems almost benevolent. He extends a hand politely. "My name is Bennet. I work for Mr Nakamura in a… somewhat unofficial capacity."
They shake hands while Lex tries to assess the situation. Clearly, this was prompted by Lionel's death in some way. "Luthor Corp and Yamagato Industries haven't been business partners for more than eighteen years, Mr Bennet. And I wasn't aware that Yamagato Industries had… branched out into such interesting areas." He glances around the room once more, wondering if the invisible man really exists or is merely an intimidation tactic.
Again Bennet's lips twist into that mirthless smirk. "These interesting areas, as you call them, are what brought them together. And not just them. They were part of a larger group of people, all with the same interests. But, as happens in business," he pauses, glancing over Lex's shoulder in a meaningful way that makes Lex want to twist around, "there arose some disagreements about the direction they were going to take. Some farseeing individuals, like Mr Nakamura, opted out. Others, like your father, stayed Company men, but he started his own side projects. You uncovered one of them a few years ago when you took over Luthor Corp, and the files you're about to open will reveal much more about your father's connections. At the moment, the Company is somewhat in disorder because of Mr Linderman's death – "
"Linderman? The Las Vegas Linderman?" Lex tried his best to appear utterly surprised – not a hard emotion to fake, since these people had to possess staggering amounts of inside information to know about this particular underworld connection Lionel had maintained until his death. If they had proof… "I read about his death in the papers. What has he got to do with all of this?"
Linderman died under highly mysterious circumstances in New York, the night of the as of yet unexplained detonation that almost devastated the city. All of this happened not two weeks before Lionel's death.
"Linderman had considerable power within the Company, but there are others ready to take over. They are the ones responsible for your father's death. Mr Nakamura believes that they will soon make you an offer: come back to the Company, reintegrate your research with theirs and work for them. It'll be an offer you'd be unwise to refuse."
Lex smiles thinly. "I assume the same goes for your offer?"
"Not at all," Bennet says. "Our offer is merely an exceptional show of kindness and good faith from Mr. Nakamura, who has children your age. In fact, after seeing some of your methods, I suspect you'll feel much more at home at the Company."
The sudden pressure and hot breath next to his ear makes Lex startle. "Maybe those buggers'll show a sense of humour and bag you, eh?" someone else drawls, clasping Lex's shoulder painfully tight. "Put you inna cage for a change."
As suddenly as it came, the pressure is gone. Lex clenches his teeth and glares at Bennet, forcing himself to stay calm. Scare tactics. How primitive. Bennet taps the suitcase. "You have to understand, though, Mr. Luthor, that these people will make demands. They will expect you to follow orders."
"I don't negotiate with terrorists."
"With your lousy security, I'd reconsider that," the voice of the invisible man says cheerfully from somewhere to Lex's left.
"I was under the impression that this was supposed to be a business deal, not blackmail."
Bennet nods, once. He opens his suitcase, pulls out a laptop and powers it up. "It is. Mr Nakamura offers is a full partnership, which means that you'll be privy to all of our information and in case you should require it, some of our human resources, although he expects you to follow a strict code of work and research ethics. Besides a look at your private pet projects has revealed that you might be interested in this."
He turns around the laptop. The image is sharp, the date at the bottom recent. At first it's so familiar that Lex doesn't recognize who it is he's seeing restrained and subdued on a lab table. Then his brain refuses to accept what it sees.
"This is the first step the company has taken to ensure your cooperation, or in case that should fail, your elimination. They have disabled your most reliable security measure. Incidentally, Senator Kent, the young man's adoptive mother, has asked Mr Nakamura for help, since he was apparently on the list of people your father gave her for such an emergency. Mr Nakamura is currently considering to build a closer working relationship with her."
Martha goddamn Kent. Lex knew his Dad would mess up his life from beyond the grave, but this monster of his has more arms than you can count. He suspects his nonchalance is entirely unconvincing when he asks, "What has this got to do with me?"
"Told you, friend," the disembodied voice chimes up from near the window. "He's as cold a fish as they come."
Bennet glances there for a moment, then looks sternly back at Lex. "What Mr Nakamura kindly asks of you as your contribution to the partnership is the following: you'll agree to their offer, merge your research with theirs and with our help, get Clark Kent out of there. You'll help us bring them down."
"So, let me summarize this," Lex drawled angrily. "I have the choice between working for them, or working for them while also working for you?"
"You'd be our inside man."
"I don't think so. It's a no-win situation for me."
Bennet pulls away the laptop and closes it, putting it back into the suitcase. Clark's tortured face vanishes, yet remains burned onto Lex's retinas. The anger he feels is bitter and complicated, mixed with proprietary indignation – all the lines he hasn't crossed, which nevertheless are his to cross when it comes to that, and no one else's…
"You get to save a life," Bennet says.
"You get not to be a bloody asshole," the invisible man adds contemptuously.
Bennet smiles, like a salesman moving in for the kill.
"And you get to save the world, Mr Luthor."
Title: Benefits
Rating: PG, some swearing
Fandom: Smallville / Heroes crossover
Spoilers: This is set shortly after Heroes S1 and somewhat after Smallville S6 and contains spoilers for both. It's futurefic and plays around with potential allegiance shifts amongst the Heroes cast, particularly Mr Bennet's.
Characters: Lex, Mr Bennet, Claude
It's the kind of irony Lex doesn't appreciate. All throughout Lionel's funeral, he feels exactly as angry, powerless and frustrated as his father routinely made him feel.
It wasn't Lex who had him killed. He has no damn idea who offed the old monster, except that they were extremely efficient.
Lionel has inherited Lex quite a bit, which isn't surprising. Some parts, especially the information Lionel has horded like the old miser he was deep down, is salient enough to distract Lex. The quantity of what Lionel has kept to himself is rather surprising, but he doesn't get much further than browsing through the files on what appears to be the most promising flash drive when suddenly, a man materializes in his office.
"Don't be alarmed, Mr Luthor," he says, but something about the cold stare from behind horn-rimmed glasses is distinctly alarming, even more so than his unexpected appearance. "My partner and I are here to make you… a business offer."
The bespectacled man wears a neat suit and a boring tie, and he carries a suitcase that is much more modern than his old-fashioned glasses. He does look like businessman, enough to make Lex switch from one survival mode to another. At the same time, his mind is racing: this man is clearly an employee, and he is clearly a mutant. Who else besides Lex employs them?
"Your partner?" he questions, glancing around the room.
The smile is tiny and entirely humourless. "He prefers to stay invisible, particularly after the glance into your laboratories we recently had."
The man moves towards Lex's desk, lifting the suitcase and resting it on the edge. "Your father was a Company man, Mr Luthor." He waits a moment, then adds, "I can see this means nothing to you."
"Who are you working for?"
"Yamagato Industries," the man says. That rings a bell. Lex remembers a trip to Japan with his father, and it hits him sudden and unexpectedly. It wasn't a nice trip, not really, but it was back before the meteors, back before Julian. His Dad's assistant taught him a few words Japanese on the plane, and Lionel, for once, was pleased with Lex. He also remembers sitting in a Japanese restaurant, on tatami mats around a low table, and thinking that the owner of Yamagato Industries, Mr Nakamura, had to be the one person on the planet scarier than his own Dad. Nakamura had daughter about Lex's age, and a son a few years younger than Lex, a cheerful kid…
The sudden stream of memory must have been evident on Lex's face, because the man nods, and for the first time seems almost benevolent. He extends a hand politely. "My name is Bennet. I work for Mr Nakamura in a… somewhat unofficial capacity."
They shake hands while Lex tries to assess the situation. Clearly, this was prompted by Lionel's death in some way. "Luthor Corp and Yamagato Industries haven't been business partners for more than eighteen years, Mr Bennet. And I wasn't aware that Yamagato Industries had… branched out into such interesting areas." He glances around the room once more, wondering if the invisible man really exists or is merely an intimidation tactic.
Again Bennet's lips twist into that mirthless smirk. "These interesting areas, as you call them, are what brought them together. And not just them. They were part of a larger group of people, all with the same interests. But, as happens in business," he pauses, glancing over Lex's shoulder in a meaningful way that makes Lex want to twist around, "there arose some disagreements about the direction they were going to take. Some farseeing individuals, like Mr Nakamura, opted out. Others, like your father, stayed Company men, but he started his own side projects. You uncovered one of them a few years ago when you took over Luthor Corp, and the files you're about to open will reveal much more about your father's connections. At the moment, the Company is somewhat in disorder because of Mr Linderman's death – "
"Linderman? The Las Vegas Linderman?" Lex tried his best to appear utterly surprised – not a hard emotion to fake, since these people had to possess staggering amounts of inside information to know about this particular underworld connection Lionel had maintained until his death. If they had proof… "I read about his death in the papers. What has he got to do with all of this?"
Linderman died under highly mysterious circumstances in New York, the night of the as of yet unexplained detonation that almost devastated the city. All of this happened not two weeks before Lionel's death.
"Linderman had considerable power within the Company, but there are others ready to take over. They are the ones responsible for your father's death. Mr Nakamura believes that they will soon make you an offer: come back to the Company, reintegrate your research with theirs and work for them. It'll be an offer you'd be unwise to refuse."
Lex smiles thinly. "I assume the same goes for your offer?"
"Not at all," Bennet says. "Our offer is merely an exceptional show of kindness and good faith from Mr. Nakamura, who has children your age. In fact, after seeing some of your methods, I suspect you'll feel much more at home at the Company."
The sudden pressure and hot breath next to his ear makes Lex startle. "Maybe those buggers'll show a sense of humour and bag you, eh?" someone else drawls, clasping Lex's shoulder painfully tight. "Put you inna cage for a change."
As suddenly as it came, the pressure is gone. Lex clenches his teeth and glares at Bennet, forcing himself to stay calm. Scare tactics. How primitive. Bennet taps the suitcase. "You have to understand, though, Mr. Luthor, that these people will make demands. They will expect you to follow orders."
"I don't negotiate with terrorists."
"With your lousy security, I'd reconsider that," the voice of the invisible man says cheerfully from somewhere to Lex's left.
"I was under the impression that this was supposed to be a business deal, not blackmail."
Bennet nods, once. He opens his suitcase, pulls out a laptop and powers it up. "It is. Mr Nakamura offers is a full partnership, which means that you'll be privy to all of our information and in case you should require it, some of our human resources, although he expects you to follow a strict code of work and research ethics. Besides a look at your private pet projects has revealed that you might be interested in this."
He turns around the laptop. The image is sharp, the date at the bottom recent. At first it's so familiar that Lex doesn't recognize who it is he's seeing restrained and subdued on a lab table. Then his brain refuses to accept what it sees.
"This is the first step the company has taken to ensure your cooperation, or in case that should fail, your elimination. They have disabled your most reliable security measure. Incidentally, Senator Kent, the young man's adoptive mother, has asked Mr Nakamura for help, since he was apparently on the list of people your father gave her for such an emergency. Mr Nakamura is currently considering to build a closer working relationship with her."
Martha goddamn Kent. Lex knew his Dad would mess up his life from beyond the grave, but this monster of his has more arms than you can count. He suspects his nonchalance is entirely unconvincing when he asks, "What has this got to do with me?"
"Told you, friend," the disembodied voice chimes up from near the window. "He's as cold a fish as they come."
Bennet glances there for a moment, then looks sternly back at Lex. "What Mr Nakamura kindly asks of you as your contribution to the partnership is the following: you'll agree to their offer, merge your research with theirs and with our help, get Clark Kent out of there. You'll help us bring them down."
"So, let me summarize this," Lex drawled angrily. "I have the choice between working for them, or working for them while also working for you?"
"You'd be our inside man."
"I don't think so. It's a no-win situation for me."
Bennet pulls away the laptop and closes it, putting it back into the suitcase. Clark's tortured face vanishes, yet remains burned onto Lex's retinas. The anger he feels is bitter and complicated, mixed with proprietary indignation – all the lines he hasn't crossed, which nevertheless are his to cross when it comes to that, and no one else's…
"You get to save a life," Bennet says.
"You get not to be a bloody asshole," the invisible man adds contemptuously.
Bennet smiles, like a salesman moving in for the kill.
"And you get to save the world, Mr Luthor."
