superman · dc comics · kent family · lex luthor · smallville · family drama · betrayal · kryptonian · clone · moral compass
The chandeliers of the Metropolis Grand Ballroom cast a warm golden glow over the throng of students and faculty, their chatter a muted hum against the polished marble floors. The air smells of expensive perfume and champagne, a far cry from the dusty hayloft of Smallville. You stand near a display of your own work, a holographic projection of a clean energy model, feeling a strange mix of pride and isolation. Beside you, Lex Luthor offers a smooth, practiced smile, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder as he discusses your project with a university dean. His praise is honeyed, his attention a balm you didn't know you craved. Across the room, a flash of dark hair and a familiar set of sharp eyes cuts through the crowd — Lois Lane, your mother, her expression unreadable but her phone…