“The way you brood, Lex, you should give up and move to Gotham.” 

Not taking his eyes from the cityscape, Lex sipped slowly.  “I’m not in the mood, Bruce.” 

“I don’t give a damn, Luthor.  Put the glass down.  We’re not announcing the latest joint venture with you reeking of liquor.” 

The sneer as Lex turned was belied by the fact that he did, in fact, put the glass down.  “Aren’t I a little beneath your standards for saving?” 

Bruce Wayne proved himself capable of the stereotypical billionaire smirk.  “As a useless dilettante, I’m certain I don’t know what you mean.” 

The snort broke Lex’s mood and he moved towards his desk with purpose.  As he began to gather together documents, his friend looked closer. 

“Are you going to be okay?” 

Lex ran a hand over the smooth surface of his head.  “Yes.  It’s the last of LuthorCorp and it needs to go.” 

“You need a hobby.” 

“Excuse me?”  The clear bafflement of the non-sequitor was prevalent in Lex’s response. 

“A hobby.  You’ve been a damn boor since your father finally died.” 

“Excuse me if I don’t take that suggestion from you.” 

Bruce did a perfect imitation of offended dignity.  “I have perfectly healthy hobbies… like polo.” 

“I don’t need a hobby.” 

“You need a life, Lex.” 

“I have a life, Bruce.” 

“There’s more to the world than business.  You’re not a monk even if you have chosen to impersonate one.” 

Lex scowled at his long-time acquaintance and more recent friend.  “Do we or do we not have a press conference?” 

Bruce stood straight, smoothing the lines of his suit jacket.  He was well aware that there was no reasoning with Lex Luthor when he was in one of his moods.  But this time, there was a plan.  The faint tremor of the communicator strapped to his wrist brought a faint smile.  J’onn would be amazed that he’d assisted the others in the misuse of Justice League equipment but there was a human (or Kryptonian) factor to consider. 

“I am going to lose my job… I am going to be banned from future press activities…  I don’t know how I let you talk me into this.” 

“Geez, Chloe, keep it down.” 

Chloe Sullivan glared up at the casually dressed figure of one of her best friends.  Clark had only gotten more beautiful over the years.  She counted herself lucky that he no longer triggered that yearning.  No, that was saved purely for yet another faux-reporter she had helped sneak past LexCorp security. 

“Clark, this is a severely bad idea.” 

Too white teeth shined within a broad grin.  “It’s a perfect idea, Chloe, and everything’s going to be fine.” 

“You are not a member of the press, Mr. Freelance Author.” 

Clark smirked down at the blonde head.  Chloe had turned away from him, muttering.  He could easily spot the others in the crowd of journalists.   

“You’re just our start cue.  You are not otherwise involved, so if this backfires none of it should fall on you.” 

The grinding of her teeth couldn’t be a good sign as Chloe’s eyes shot pure agitation at her taller companion. 

“And since when has reasonable ever applied to a pissed-off Luthor?” 

Clark chuckled, drawing a few curious glances from the more serious reporters that surrounded their little oasis in the crowd. 

“You can stand behind me.  I’ll protect you.” 

Chloe ignored him, mumbling to herself about over-bearing oafs and improper uses of Kryptonite if this had any negative impact on her career.  Her grumbling cut off as the public address system kicked on and the men of the hour stepped onto the small stage.  Erected on the steps of LexCorp headquarters, it tastefully displayed the logos of both LexCorp and WayneTech. 

Lex allowed his eyes to drift over the crowd as he made opening remarks.  It was a studied practice, one that conveyed wide-ranging interest and allowed him not to look eminently bored.  Bruce had declined the opportunity to speak himself, as the day really was more about the end of LuthorCorp. 

“And so today marks the end of the final subsidiary of LuthorCorp as it becomes the latest joint venture between WayneTech and LexCorp.” 

Lex stepped back to slightly more enthusiastic than expected applause.  Bruce gave him the slightest of nods and he twitched a smile in return.  They made good business partners once he’d given up his father’s model of progress. 

Their joint public relations person deferred the first couple of technical questions to items in the press packet.  But then a voice came out of the crowd that Lex felt driven to answer. 

“Mr. Luthor!  Chloe Sullivan with the Gotham Underground.” 

There was an honestly pleased smile on his face as Lex stepped forward.  “Yes, Ms. Sullivan?” 

“Does the final dissolution of LuthorCorp mark the end of your father’s era of business?” 

Lex’s eyes narrowed as he tried to determine exactly what Chloe was digging for.  “As my father has been dead for more than nine years, I would say it’s certainly time for his business practices to be a thing of the past." 

“Mr. Wayne!” 

Bruce stepped up next to Lex and pointed to a dark-haired woman in the crowd. 

“Diana Prince, New York Times.  Does this joint venture on a former LuthorCorp subsidiary indicate that Wayne Industries is no longer avoiding business dealings with LuthorCorp?” 

Lex was mildly confused.  He couldn’t recall any Ms. Prince on the New York Times staff.  Side-lining his thought that he recognized her face, he was even more perplexed that Bruce seemed amused by the experience rather than the harping on Luthor business history. 

“While Wayne subsidiaries avoided all dealings with LuthorCorp, LexCorp has never been anything but a forerunner in fair and equitable business practices.” 

“Mr. Luthor!” The man didn’t even stop for acknowledgement before continuing, “Walter West, Horse and Hound magazine.  Do you have an answer for those of your competitors who object that LexCorp and WayneTech have an unfair advantage due to their respective cities resident heroes?” 

This one was a little too obvious… Lex knew, in that instant, he was being set up for something.  He shot a stinging glare at Bruce.  But the dark-haired businessman only leaned close and muttered, “Go with it, Luthor.  It’s for your own good.” 

Lex, seething at an uncontrolled situation, answered the question.  “It’s to the advantage of Gotham and Metropolis, not merely our respective companies, to have such protection.” 

The journalists spread in front of the podium had caught on to the oddity of the questions.  Leaping into the fray before someone else could derail the possibility entirely, Lois Lane spoke up. 

“Mr. Luthor!  Lois Lane, Daily Planet.” 

He nodded slightly, scanning the crowd distractedly for overt anomalies.  “Ms. Lane.” 

“How do you explain those inconsistencies that indicate LexCorp is continuing LuthorCorp’s history of shady dealings?” 

In the absence of any other target, Lois Lane was always a good focus for ire.  “I’d say you’re still confusing me with my father, Ms. Lane.” 

“Mr. Luthor!  Clark Kent, freelance journalist.” 

Lex’s head snapped around.  His eyes greedily absorbed every detail he could on the man nestled within the crowd’s embrace.  It was galling that he had to clear his throat before he could respond.  But as Bruce took the slightest of steps back, he knew this had been the point of the oddities. 

“Mr. Kent.” 

Clark smiled, hearing the slightest of hesitations in the formality between them.  “Were you aware that the President this morning signed Joint Resolution 01-43?” 

Lex turned slightly as Bruce handed him a tightly folded newspaper he’d pulled from inside his suit jacket.  He had begun a response, “I don’t see how that affects this joint venture,” that tapered off as he read the blurb on the Marriage Equality Act. 

The journalists began to shift as they sensed a larger story than a business merger.  Clark stood strong in the tide, ignoring the cameras and tape recorders that had been shifted towards him.  Chloe, a persistent presence nearby in the crowd, held her finger poised over the text messaging on her phone.  Her story had been written two ways and she would have the scoop no matter what Lex Luthor responded. 

Seeing as Lex didn’t quite know how to complete or alter his reply, a strange silence hung over the press conference.  Clark smiled that innocent beam of joy that had greeted Lex so many times in Smallville. 

“I finally decided what to ask for Lex… But the question is, can I have you?” 

Seeing that the bald man was practically frozen by the sheer improbability of the situation, Bruce leaned into his friend.  His voice was pitched for a private comment, even if it was heard clearly by the patiently waiting Kryptonian being observed by the reporters grouped around him. 

“You’re not your father, Lex.  You’re allowed to be happy.” 

And the journalists parted before him as Lex stepped away from the podium and approached Clark Kent.  With cameras flashing, recorders rolling, and mouths gaping all around, Lex embraced his younger love and clung to the man who had been his strength. 

Let It Out, by Hoobastank

This is ours, we made it with our everything
Something real, as real as it could ever be
You gave me all of yourself, I gave you all of me
Now set it free from yourself, for everyone to see

I'm not afraid to let it out
I'm gonna show you how I feel
I'm not afraid to let it out
(who cares if you dont like it)
(if you don't like it)

Go ahead, you know just what you want to do
Don't deny, you feel cause I feel it to
Take a look all around, you'll feel it in the air
From the sky to the ground, I feel it everywhere

I'm not afraid to let it out
I'm gonna show you how I feel
I'm not afraid to let it out
(who cares if you dont like it)
I'm not afraid to let it out
I'm gonna show you how I feel
I'm not afraid to let it out
To let it out
(who cares if you don't like it)
(who cares if you don't like it)
(who cares if you don't like it)
(who cares if you don't like it)

This is ours, we made it with our everything
Something real, as real as it could ever be
You gave me all of yourself, I gave you all of me
Now set it free from yourself, for everyone to see

I'm not afraid to let it out
I'm gonna show you how I'm free
I'm not afraid to let it out
(who cares if you dont like it)
I'm not afraid to let it out
I'm gonna show you how I'm free
I'm not afraid to let it out
To let it out
To let it out
To let it out
(who cares if you don't like it)
(if you don't like it)
(if you don't like it)