Bounty
Raze is waiting to speak with Lex Luthor. This is payday, finally.
He sits in the posh chair, practically high with anticipation, and it takes a lot to get Raze high these days. But this, this is all he needs. One slip-up from that...freak, and he's going to be living on Easy Street for the rest of his life.
Because everyone, every lowlife and crook in this great city, let alone larger markets, knows where to go if they find out. They all know that Lex Luthor is willing to pay hand over fist if you can tell him the one thing he wants to know.
Who is Superman?
Ladies and Gents, show's over, because Raze was in the right place at the right time, and all the denials in the world aren't going to save that reporter now that the great Luthor is getting ahold of his little secret. Maybe Mr. Kent had thought he didn't have time to put on his stupid outfit somewhere safer, or maybe he thought no one was there to see, but that will be his last mistake. He's going down.
The stories of what Lex Luthor will do to find out are legendary. Every time the self-righteous alien takes down another major operation, the reward gets bigger, and at this point, Raze could be a few minutes and one story away from being even richer than Bruce Wayne.
He should probably get out of Metropolis in order to show Luthor some respect and gratitude. No sense getting in the way of your benefactor, after all. Maybe he should just get out of the country altogether, now that he thinks about it. He's heard that Luthor is always in the market for a reliable arms dealer- yeah, that's the ticket. Lucrative as all hell, and this is one gig he is not going to screw up...
"Mr. Luthor will see you know, sir," the impassive secretary interrupts, her voice uninterested but condescending. Just wait, Raze thinks. Soon you'll be talking to me with a little more respect.
He walks into the office with a half smile, wanting to remember this moment forever. The moment when he made himself.
Luthor's smile is like honey as he gestures to a chair. "Please, sit down. I understand you have something to tell me?"
Raze grins. "Yeah. Something I think you will be very glad to hear."
"No doubt. Drink?" He walks over to the bar, and Raze has to wonder if this bald billionaire has any idea what he's about to hear.
"Sure. Jack on the rocks, Mr. Luthor, sir."
"Please, call me Lex."
He will, at that. "Well, Lex, your dreams are about to come true."
Lex laughs softly. "Good to hear it. In what sense?"
"I know who Superman is."
The sound of ice and glass halts for a moment, and Raze smiles. Guess he wasn't expecting anything like that. "Well now. Go on- I'm listening."
Coming over with two glasses, Lex sits down, the picture of composure as he hands Raze his drink, who, for his part, had expected more of a reaction. "Well, I was coming out of this building on Wells and 8th, when I thought I heard something. There's this old partner of mine who's been...looking for me, if you know what I mean. I ducked back inside, and then I heard this gust of wind, which was really weird for a night as humid and heavy as this one, right?"
"Naturally, you were suspicious."
"Exactly. So I stood there in the shadows for a minute, and I looked out and saw this guy in the alley, and I thought I recognized him. Dark hair, glasses."
Lex has this strange smile on his face, like he's just heard some sort of ridiculous joke. "Glasses. Right."
"Then it came to me- it was that reporter, Clark Kent. The one who always makes so much trouble for you with his stupid investigations. Then, before I even have time to think, he pulls his shirt open, and there it was. That damn "S", you know? I'm standing there wondering why some reporter is dressed up like a superhero underneath his clothes, when all of a sudden he turns into this blur. I mean, just a blur! You could tell something was there, but it was so fast you couldn't see what. And then he stopped, and it was that same dumb outfit that you always see on the news. And just in case you think there's any doubt, I saw him take off. Like, flying. And then a buddy of mine told me that Superman had stopped an armed robbery just a block away at that same time."
"As he often does."
"Yeah. And as soon as I realized what was going on, I came straight to you. I mean, I didn't tell anyone, just came right here."
"Are you sure no one else knows?"
"Hell yes. I wouldn't want to split the reward with anybody else, right?"
Lex nods. "No, no you wouldn't."
Raze lets out a breath. "So, there you have it. He's your guy. Hiding in plain sight, huh?"
Lex stands up, swirling his drink. "Indeed, it would seem so. I'm very pleased to hear about your discovery, Raze. Even more so that you came to me first. I'll make it worth your while- more so than you can imagine."
"That's what I was hoping."
"I've had quite a few people come and tell me that they knew who Superman was, but I have been almost totally disappointed until now. Cheers, my friend. To you, and your discovery, and the reward you have earned entirely."
Raze grinned. They lifted glasses, and each drank.
"Did you know Clark Kent saved my life when I was younger? Several times, actually. He was still in high school then."
Raze looked up in surprise. "You know him?"
"Oh, yes. His mother makes wonderful pies. She and his father just came to visit this past weekend, and we all got together for dinner and talked about the old days. We had one of her pies for dessert."
Raze's head was beginning to spin. Luthor knew Kent? Knew his whole family?
"My father had planned on me hating Smallville, but I actually miss it quite often. I don't miss the frequent head injuries though. It's a miracle I didn't suffer any permanent consequences from it...feeling alright?"
Raze shook his head to try and clear his vision. Everything was so blurred...
Lex suddenly came closer, standing over him, his calm smile never changing. "Coming here really wasn't your best idea, you know. This grudge you've been holding against me ever since I refused to hire you for the Simmons job didn't have to come this far."
Nothing is making sense. "What? What are you-"
"Did you think you'd get away with it? Coming here with some foolish story about Superman and slipping poison into my drink? First you tampered with my security cameras so no one could see you do it, then you tried to kill me. A good thing I didn't trust you. A good thing I switched our drinks at the last moment."
He can't feel his fingers. How can you pick a lock if you can't feel your fingers?
"My latest brush with death. A crazed criminal, trying to murder me in my own office. A daring plan, but foiled by my own instincts of self-preservation."
He can hardly draw a breath, now. "I thought-"
"You thought I wanted to know who Superman is, right? I've known him since before he knew how to fly. But I stand by what I said." His smile was sincerely amused. "I am glad you came to me."
**
Clark threw his keys on the table in the front hall, smiling when he saw Lex standing by his window. "Hey. What's the matter?"
"How many times do I have to tell you to be more careful?"
Clark cringed. "Again?"
Lex nodded. "I agree that armed robberies are bad, bad things. Your being seen, however, is worse. What if the guy hadn't come to me first? What then?"
Clark collapsed on the couch, taking his glasses off and tossing them onto the coffee table. "I'm sorry. And thank you. And I'm sorry. I know you have more important things to deal with."
Lex sat beside him. "Not really."
"Why not? Empire running itself?"
"That, and Superman foiled all my other plans for the evening."
"Bastard."
"Tell me about it. Doesn't he know what happens when I have free time?" Lex tugged at his tie as he put up his feet, and Clark smiled.
"Yeah, he probably knows."