It was a cold night at Luthor Mansion.
Inside, a growing tension filled the luxurious office.
"You disobeyed my orders, Lex!" Lionel roared, his eyes blazing with anger as he stormed into Lex's office.
Lex, seated in his leather chair, looked at his father calmly.
"I kept the entire workforce, Lionel. I cut the operational budget of the factory to balance the accounts."
"That wasn't the point, Lex!" Lionel approached the desk with firm steps. "This was your one chance to challenge me and prove you could do what was necessary. And you failed."
"Failed?" Lex stood up slowly, his eyes locking onto Lionel's. "I avoided a public relations disaster, Dad. Imagine the headlines: 'Luthor lays off hundreds in Smallville.' That would've been catastrophic."
"You don't get it, Lex!" Lionel huffed, his frustration evident. "I'm not worried about public relations! This was about testing your ability to make tough decisions, to follow orders without question!"
"You're just mad because my plan worked, and you didn't come up with it first," Lex retorted, his tone sarcastic but firm.
Lionel stepped closer, his fists clenched.
"You think you're smart, don't you? Always looking for ways to dodge the lessons. But the truth is, you defied me... and that won't go unpunished."
"You're only angry because I showed there's another way to win, Lionel. A way that doesn't destroy everything in its path." Lex replied, unwavering, a cold smile on his lips.
A heavy silence filled the office as the two Luthors stared each other down, the tension in the air almost palpable.
....
The next day, at Smallville Savings and Loan
"I'd like to close all my accounts," said Tina Greer, disguised as Lex Luthor, as she approached the manager's desk.
The manager, a middle-aged man with thin glasses, looked up in surprise and disappointment. "All of your accounts, Mr. Luthor?" He asked, clearly puzzled by the sudden request.
"Yes, all of them," Tina replied, perfectly imitating Lex's cold, calculating voice.
The manager nodded, starting the process, but something caught his attention. "Hmmm... Mr. Luthor, the signature here doesn't match the one on file." He looked up at Tina, suspicion growing. "Could you show me your driver's license to confirm your identity?"
Tina hesitated for a brief moment, her eyes narrowing. Her hand slowly reached into her purse.
"Of course," she said, her voice losing some of Lex's usual calm. In a quick motion, she pulled out a gun, pointing it directly at the manager.
"The money. Now!" Tina demanded, her voice sharp and cold, the tension in the air escalating instantly.
The manager, now panicked, raised his hands slowly. "Alright, alright. No need for this..."
Tina kept the gun trained on him as the manager quickly grabbed the money and put it in a bag.
Buzzing!
The bank's alarm blared, echoing off the walls. Tina, still calm, grabbed the bag of money and dashed out of the bank, leaving the manager stunned.
The bank's customers started screaming and ducking, while Tina, still looking like Lex, sprinted toward the exit, disappearing into the crowd in Smallville.
...
Clark was leaving gym class with a calm expression. As he walked through the halls, his eyes caught a scene ahead that immediately grabbed his attention. Sean was talking to Chloe, and something about the interaction didn't feel right.
Clark, staying composed, activated his super hearing, allowing him to listen in on the conversation without getting too close.
"Chloe, I know Coach Walt died in a horrible way, and it messed with me... maybe we could go out tonight and talk about it," Sean said, his tone visibly sad.
Chloe, with her back to Clark, hadn't noticed him approaching.
"Sean, I'm sorry about Walt's death, but I think you should talk to the school counselor. I can't help you the way you need."
Sean, however, persisted, ignoring her suggestion. "Ah, Chloe, you're amazing. I just... think it'd be good for us to get out for a bit, you know? You could help me deal with this."
Clark, understanding Sean's intentions, walked toward them, keeping his cool. When he got close enough, his firm voice interrupted the conversation.
"I think you didn't hear her, Sean. She's not interested. And if I have to ask you to back off, I won't be as polite."
Sean turned, a sneer on his face.
"Oh, so you're the boyfriend? Honestly, doesn't seem like you can handle much competition, Kent."
Before Clark could respond, Chloe stepped between them, raising her hand slightly to stop any further argument.
"Sean, listen up," Chloe began, her voice firm and resolute. "I'm not a prize for you or any other guy. I choose who I want to be with, and I've already made that choice." She turned to Clark, wrapping her arms around his neck and, without hesitation, kissed him deeply.
When the kiss ended, Chloe turned back to Sean, her gaze even more determined. "I'm Clark's girlfriend, and nothing you say or do will change that."
Sean, visibly irritated, shook his head with disdain. "You're the one missing out, Chloe," he muttered, his voice dripping with anger as he walked away, his heavy steps echoing down the hallway.
'This kid... he has no idea who he's challenging,' Clark thought, keeping his gaze fixed on Sean's back as he walked away. 'I already know what he's going to become. And I'll make sure his fate is much worse than any other villain.'
Sensing the lingering tension, Chloe gently tugged Clark's arm, trying to ease the mood. "Hey, it's okay now. He's gone."
"Yeah, he's gone," Clark replied, his eyes still on the hallway where Sean had disappeared. 'But that doesn't mean it's over, Chloe. Not yet.'
"Let's get out of here, Chloe," Clark finally said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We've got better things to do than worry about people like him."
...
Class ended, and Clark was walking peacefully beside Chloe through the school hallways. They were heading to the parking lot.
"I just want to forget this strange day," Chloe commented, sighing as she adjusted her backpack on her shoulder.
"Let's go to the farm," Clark said, placing an arm around her shoulders. "It'll be good to relax for a bit."
They reached the truck, and Clark opened the passenger door for Chloe to climb in. As soon as he settled into the driver's seat, his phone started vibrating in his pocket.
Bzzz! Bzzz!
Clark frowned when he saw Lex's name on the screen.
"It's Lex. Let's see what he wants," Clark said, answering the call. "Hey, Lex. What's going on?"
Lex's voice was tense and filled with worry.
"Clark, I need to talk to you now. It's serious. I'm being accused of robbing a bank, and there's a situation that's getting worse. I also wanted to discuss a proposal related to your farm. Can you meet me at the mansion?"
"Lex, what do you mean you're being accused of robbing a bank?" Clark asked, surprised, trying to process the information.
"I know it sounds crazy, Clark, but someone's impersonating me. And it's not just that... I think they're trying to frame me for something much bigger."
Clark remained silent for a moment, his mind racing. Suddenly, the memory of Tina Greer, the shapeshifter girl, came to mind. 'Tina... she's the only one who could be doing this.' The thought that Tina might be behind this brought a new sense of urgency.
"Lex, I've got to go. Handle this for now, I'll meet you later," Clark said, abruptly hanging up the phone.
Bzzz
Clark immediately dialed his mother's number. He felt his heart race, knowing that Tina not only had shapeshifting abilities but was also unstable and dangerous.
The phone rang a few times before Martha Kent answered.
"Hi, Clark! I'm heading out to town. Do you need anything?"
Clark felt a chill run down his spine. 'She's going to attack my mom.'
"Mom, stay home!" he said, his voice filled with concern. "Don't leave the house until I get there. I mean it!"
"Clark, what happened?" Martha asked, her voice worried.
"I'll explain everything when I get there, but please, don't leave the house," Clark insisted. He knew Tina was unpredictable, and his mother would be in danger if she left the farm.
"Alright, Clark. I'll stay here. Come quickly, okay?" Martha replied, still suspicious but not questioning further.
Clark hung up the phone, already feeling the urgency building inside him. He quickly glanced at Chloe, who was sitting in the passenger seat, clearly confused by the look on Clark's face.
"Clark, what's going on?" Chloe asked, visibly worried by Clark's sudden change in demeanor.
"I don't have time to explain right now, Chloe," Clark said as he turned the truck's key. "But I need to make sure my mom is safe."
Clark started the engine with a vruuum and floored the accelerator, the truck roaring as he made a sharp turn, speeding toward the Kent farm.
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