In The Window
The Pomipe Institute for Early Canine Developmental Therapy, Colorado.
Early Afternoon.
Three young men with dark hair (of the perpetually mussed variety) are sitting in a glass walled observation room which overlooks a grassy lawn. Clark Kent. Seth Cohen. Harry Potter.
Still full of energy from the run here (and the passenger he carried), Clark breaks the silence.
CLARK: So, how did you hear about this place?
SETH: Internet.
HARRY: My godfather hid- um, worked here for awhile. He told me the kennels reminded him of our school dormitories, but I think that was a joke.
CLARK: You go to boarding school? That's pretty cool, right? Lex went to boarding school- he always tells me these stories about how it was just for guys to learn to flirt with each other, but I'm pretty sure he was kidding.
(Clark blushes, as does Harry.)
HARRY: Yeah. Probably kidding. (Clears throat uncomfortably.) I mean, our school has girls. I even had a girlfriend! Sort of. You know, you're both attracted...
CLARK: ...but she isn't sure about doing anything about it because of her gorgeous athlete boyfriend who died nobly in battle?
(Harry stares in shock.)
HARRY: You're kidding. The exact same thing. Exactly! And I mean, I felt terrible about Cedric- still do, I should have saved him- but she just kept running hot and cold all the time!
SETH: I don't know about dead exes, but man, do I know hot and cold. Summer would kiss me and then threaten death if I told anyone- talk about a rollercoaster. But I fell in love with her when I was ten, so at that point-
CLARK: I know. Years of pining and not even being able to get close because of a stupid necklace...
HARRY:...different houses...
SETH: ...her forcefield of popularity. Dudes, you totally get me. I used to sit there and look at her hair and just think about touching it. Long, dark hair, and man, I wanted to wrap my fingers in it.
CLARK: I dreamt about her hair like, 4 out of 7 days a week.
HARRY: And the smell! The scent of her shampoo alone- and her hair was so black it shone blue.
CLARK: Lana's is more brown.
SETH: Yeah, Summer too.
HARRY: So Summer- she's your girlfriend?
SETH: (Shifts uncomfortably) No, it didn't work out exactly the way I envisioned it for six years, oddly enough. But my girlfriend Anna is awesome- we have so much in common! And she's really cute. Short blonde hair- that sticky-outy pixie thing.
CLARK: Like my friend Chloe! I used to wonder how she managed to get her hair all flippy, but she never told me. Not even when we- (he breaks off, embarrassed. Harry and Seth laugh.)
HARRY: Chloe, huh?
CLARK: No, we tried it once. "Us," you know? But it's like we're too close- too alike. She's practically my sister, and it didn't feel right.
SETH: (Looks SUPREMELY awkward. He looks out to the lawn, then touches Harry's arm.) Should your friend really be doing that?
(Draco is holding a puppy midair by its tail. Harry bangs on the glass and gives him a glare, which results in a rather spectacular Malfoy Eye Roll.)
CLARK: Whoa. Are you sure he's safe around puppies?
HARRY: Yeah, I'm trying to teach him that being kind and gentle doesn't have to mean you're a spineless imbecile. I thought this could be an immersion course- but considering he was raised to kick small animals...
SETH: (Horrified) What?
HARRY: Seriously, his father is one of the most evil men I've ever met. Ruthless. He tortures, maims, frames, kills- anything to get his way.
CLARK: (paling) Lex's dad is exactly the same way. Totally evil! He's got charisma, so he draws people to him, but they're all pawns in his little games and manipulations. The stuff he's done to Lex...
HARRY: Same with Draco. Everything he wanted and nothing he needed, you know?
CLARK: And the long hair. What the hell?
HARRY: I know! So Seth, does your silence mean that Ryan's dad has short hair, or that he isn't a depraved lunatic?
SETH: (shrugs) I dunno. Ryan doesn't talk about him, and I've never met the guy. He's in prison.
HARRY: So is Lucius! I'm sure he'll get out, though. He can buy anything.
CLARK: (snorts) Tell me about it. Lionel should be in prison- Lex found out that he killed his own parents.
(Harry and Seth have matching expressions of horror.)
Right? But he blackmailed this doctor into drugging Lex so everyone thought he was crazy, and then locked him up in an asylum for unwarranted electroshock therapy to modify his memory.
(Further stares of horror.)
SETH: Guess that explains why he needs the puppies, then. Damn.
HARRY: That is twisted.
CLARK: I know. And Lex thinks his father was trying to help him. Help him! How am I supposed to tell him that his father is a complete bastard who doesn't deserve Lex's devotion?
HARRY: (nodding) Exactly. Draco knows his father is evil, but somehow still thinks of him as this devoted patriarch. Given his rotten childhood, it's a wonder he hasn't snapped.
CLARK: Same for Lex.
SETH: Same for Ryan. He still has trouble believing that people can care about him without any ulterior motives.
HARRY: Yeah, try telling a Slytherin that friendship doesn't need to involve motives.
CLARK: Seriously, if one more woman marries Lex for his money and then tries to kill him, I don't know what I'll do.
**
Just then, Draco's imperious voice rang across the grass. "Potter, I am being attacked and possible disfigured by these horrid little beasts. Embrace your Gryffindor impulses and rescue me at once!"
Harry excused himself and walked outside to sit next to Draco, pulling a few of the pups away from the blond boy's robes. "Draco, they love you. Doesn't it make you feel special?"
"I don't need to feel special, I am special. And all I can think about is a long list of potions which require very special puppy ingredients- ooh!" His squeal was slightly less dignified than the rest of his speech, and Harry winked at the wiggling creature which had just nipped Draco's wrist. America was turning out rather well, he thought.
**
Clark flopped down next to Lex, scooping up a small dachshund from the vicinity of Lex's ankle. "How are you feeling?"
Lex spoke to the small Pomeranian in his lap. "Dizzy. Fragmented. Covered in fur. Who were you talking to?"
Clark grinned. "Just some new friends. We had a lot in common, actually. How about you and the dogs?"
Lex gave him a Look, but Clark only smiled. "We discussed you. Andrew," Lex shook the ball of fluff in his lap, "feels that you deserve a kiss for your attempts at...reparation."
Clark froze, and then Lex dumped the wriggling bundle that was Andrew on Clark's chest. Andrew yipped and began lapping at his chin, and Clark laughed until it hurt.
**
"How do you know I'm not a cat person?" Ryan asked, examining the Labrador scrabbling around his knees.
"Cats are too snooty, and we get enough of that at home. Besides, you always wanted a puppy growing up."
Ryan looked up sharply. "What makes you say that?"
Seth grinned. "Because I always wanted one, and we're brothers, and that's the deal. I'd suggest we ask for one at home- but between my sloth and your tendency to run off and save people from themselves, I'm sure it would die of neglect."
Ryan smiled. "Besides, your mom has a lot of white furniture."
Seth nodded, pulling out some dog biscuits. "Exactly. So Ryan, how long is your dad's hair?"