Angels

Angels

Flora Winter

I do not own Smallville and I’m not making any money off writing this either.

Summary: Unlike people, love doesn’t discriminate. CLEX! A Christmas Story.

Chapter One

The world was shimmering and glittering white. Snowflakes were falling like tiny little jewels from Heaven. The night was cold and the wind was gentle and calm. It was as though the Hosts of Heaven were embracing all of Smallville with their brilliant wings of luminous radiance.

Tears fell like pearls from molten green gemstones that were glowing with a deep and sorrowful pain. His golden cheeks were stained with crystal clear streams of moonlight. He was shivering, but it wasn’t from the cold. He didn’t even feel the cold. All he could feel was loss and the coldness in which it caused.

It was the night before Christmas, and it would be the first Christmas ever without his father being there with Santa’s jolly red hat on his head, handing out gifts from under the decorated tree. His world was falling down around him like the snow and he didn’t know how to put it all back together again.

His life was like a broken mirror. All of the pieces were at his feet, reflecting every mistake he had ever made. He would kneel down among the glass, pick up a painful shard, and gaze within the glossy surface to see how things might have been had he chosen another path.

Every shard of glass he picked up only cut and scarred him even deeper. All the sharp pieces led him through the labyrinth to the two choices he should have made a long time ago. It is these two choices that have haunted him ever since that fateful day. He should have trusted Lex and obeyed the will of Jor-El. If he had done those two things, his life would be very different right now. He would be at home, right now, under his warm covers, dreaming of sugarplums and mistletoes. His father would still be alive to celebrate Christmas tomorrow and the world wouldn’t be in the mess it was now in.

There is only one truth. All of it was his fault. He had been stupid and all his selfish actions have hurt so many innocent people. He hated himself. He was worse than the Phantoms.

He knelt down in the icy snow before his father’s tombstone, running a large golden hand across Jonathan Kent’s name. He was a loving husband and the world’s greatest dad.

“I miss you,” he whispered in a white puff of air. “I miss you so much.”

He looked up at the sky as a cold wind ruffled his hair like a loving caress. The snow was slowly stopping and silver light touched his face. The light from the moon caused the snow to shimmer like billions of diamonds littering the frozen ground. Twinkling stars illuminated his eyes as the cloud’s rolled by.

He blinked his stunning eyes and turned his head towards the large church in the distance. The steeple was tall, pointing to Heaven, and the brilliant stained glass windows were illuminated from within. There was as voice on the wind and it called to him like the smell of freshly baked gingerbread.

O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

He rose to his feet and just stood there listening. He had never heard such a sweet and perfectly pitched voice. It was like honey and tickled like a silver stringed harp.

Long lay the world in sin and ever pining,
Till He appeared and the Soul felt its worth.

His feet suddenly began to walk as if they had a mind all their own. It was like he had no control over them. Some strange force had possessed his body and there was some buried emotion inside, trying to break free from its icy prison.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morning.

He opened up the unlocked wooden church door and warmth embraced him like sweet scented wings. There was a young man standing all alone in the choir. Hundreds of candles were burning on the large altar, and the organ was playing such a beautiful song.

His feet continued to carry him forward, past the many rows of wooden pews. The teen looked no older than him, and he was clothed in a flowing red robe.

He had his eyes closed and he was something to truly behold. He had never seen anyone so physically beautiful in all his life. The young man was dazzling in his perfection. He seemed to glow from the inside out with an aura of profound peace.

The young man suddenly opened his stunning amber eyes and tears streamed from emerald prisons.

Fall on your knees!

He felt his knees give out on him and he fell to his palms, leaving imprints in the marble floor. He raised his head, seeing the dark-headed vision in red standing directly before him. How had he moved so fast? There was a soothing white light radiating out from his very body like warm sunbursts.

What was he? Was he meteor infected? Those molten amber gems were boring into him with such love and compassion.

Oh, hear the angel voices!

An angel? Was he losing his mind?

His eyes slightly widened when the stunning image held out his arms to him. All of his pain and sorrow seemed to take a back seat. He couldn’t stop the tears no matter how hard he tried to do so.

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.

The angle knelt down and took him in his radiant arms that were as warm as the golden sun upon his skin. The salty prisoners fell and his whole soul seemed to weep in that heavenly embrace.

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppressions shall cease.

Clark’s eyes widened as a vision of him giving his best friend the kiss of life. He could see those smoky eyes the color of quartz crystals looking at him as though he were an angel. There had been such love in those tragic and lonely eyes.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Will all our hearts we praise His holy name.

“I’m sorry,” Clark whispered under the music. The angle gently squeezed him.

Christ is the Lord!
Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaimed!

“I love him,” Clark choked as he buried his face in fragrant red silk. He didn’t know why he was doing this. Who was this man? “I love him…”

The angel gently pulled away from him, smiling with such blissful joy, wiping the tears from his green eyes. “God is love, Kal-El,” he said, placing his feather soft palms upon his golden cheeks, pulling his face close, and planting a heart-melting kiss upon his smooth brow with petal soft lips that were redder than any rose found on earth. “Love is all that truly matters in the compassionate eyes of our beloved Maker.”

Clark was startled. How did he know his alien name? Was he psychic?

“We are messengers of God’s love.”

Wings of brilliant light sprouted from his back with luminous radiance. Music and song seemed to dance as one all around his dazed eyes in dazzling lights.

“Your father loves you,” the angel whispered against his ear, tickling him with warmth that seeped into his bones. “He only wants for you to be happy, Clark.”

Clark felt himself falling back onto something soft as the angel’s heavenly voice echoed in his soul with such perfect harmony.

O night divine!

His green eyes fluttered open and he found himself resting at the base of the church altar. He sat up, seeing that he candles on the altar were still burning as if they had just been lit. He looked around, startled. The place was empty. Had it all just been a dream? That was when he saw the shimmering white feather on the ground to his left. He reached for it, picked it up, and it crumbled away in glittering white sparkles before his eyes.

He smiled, looking up at the stained glass window. There was an angel is red, reaching out to heal pain and sorrow. His dad wanted him to be happy…

“Thank you…”

In the blink of an eye and a swirl of blinding snow, he was standing at the front door to Lex’s castle. The windows were dark and he bet it was just as cold on the inside. He looked at his watch, seeing that it was just a few minutes until midnight.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, opened them, and let himself inside. It was so easy to bypass thousands of dollars worth of useless security that never really worked.

He made his way silently up the stairs and down the long hall to Lex’s study. There was a small light on and he knew Lex was indeed awake.

He stood in the open doorway, seeing the lonely millionaire kneeling in front of the warm fireplace. The flames consuming the logs made shadows dance all around the large room.

“Lex…” he whispered.

Lex visibly jumped and turned his head to look at him. He stood there as the shadows danced across his face and the snow melted in his hair, looking into those cold and lonely icy stars.

Clark let his jacket fall to his feet with a soft thud. “I’m sorry…”

Lex blinked. His face looked confused, but only for a second. It was like he was waiting for another verbal or physical assault on his person.

He just stood there as the older man slowly rose to his feet, picking up his iron poker. He watched Lex walk towards him with a neutral expression on his handsomely stoic face. He didn’t even try to flinch away when Lex raised the poker to strike him in the face.

Lex let out a strangled gasp when he didn’t try to stop him and the poker landed in the floor with a metallic bang. Clark took him in his arms and Lex trembled in his embrace. It was like he was trying to cry and didn’t know how.

“I’m so sorry,” Clark whispered, squeezing him gently.

“You were my brother,” Lex sobbed, and it was painful to hear. He was pounding his fists against Clark’s chest with all his might. “I would have done anything for you!”

“I know,” Clark said, taking it from him. The fists didn’t hurt. It was his words. They stung like razor blades cutting into tender flesh. “I turned my back and abandoned you.”

“I should hate you!” Lex yelled, squeezing his shirt with both hands. “But, I can’t! No matter how hard I try, I just can’t!”

“Lex,” Clark whispered ever so softly, letting the tears go, resting his head on his shoulder just as the grandfather clock across the room began to chime the midnight hour. “I love you.”

Lex laughed and it sounded crazed. It was a laugh filled with pain and anguish. “Are you out of your mind? Don’t play games with me.” Clark couldn’t stand to hear it.

“What are you…” Lex tried to ask, but he was instantly cut off when Clark’s lips suddenly connected with his like the world’s most powerful magnet. The kiss was so warm, so full of need, and Lex didn’t fight him. He broke the kiss as much as it pained him to do so, and looked into Lex’s stunned eyes as the clock finished chiming.

“I’m sorry.”

Lex blinked seven times and it was kind of comical. It was like something Lucy would do when Ricky caught her in the act red-handed. He let go of Clark’s shirt with one hand, putting his fingers to his lips. “What…”

“I love you.”

Another tear fell from a smoky gray orb, and Clark gently wiped it away with his thumb. Lex still hadn’t let go of his shirt with his other hand.

“You…love…me…”

Clark nodded, feeling his heart fluttering like a frightened hummingbird in his chest.

“I…”

Clark put a finger to those lips and smiled. He slowly led the smaller man over to stand in front of the burning logs. The fire was so warm.

“Where’s your Christmas tree?” He asked.

Lex looked up at his face. “I had nothing to celebrate.”

“Where is it?” He asked.

Lex cocked his head to the side. “It’s a little too late for that, Clark.”

Clark smiled, kissing his ivory white hand. “It’s never too late to celebrate Christmas.”

Lex rolled his startling eyes. “It’s in the basement.”

“All right,” Clark said, pulling away. “I’ll go get it and we’ll decorate it together.”

Lex didn’t let go of his shirt. “Together…”

Clark nodded.

“Is this a dream?”

Clark shook his head. “This is real.”

“I’m coming with you,” Lex said, leading him by his shirt. “I’m afraid if I let go, you’ll vanish on me.”

“Lex,” Clark said, gently pulling him around to hold him once more. “Can I give you a Christmas present?”

“What kind?”

“Me,” Clark said, pulling him close enough to tickle his ear with his warm breath. “All of me.”

Lex’s eyes widened. “I’m not sure they make boxes in your size.”

Clark smiled. “Would you keep me?”

Lex caressed his cheek. “Even after the expiration date expires.”

“Merry Christmas, Lex,” Clark said, kissing his cheek.

Lex wrapped his arms around him this time, too. “And many more to come, Clark.”

“I have so much I want to tell you,” Clark said.

“You’ll have all morning to tell me,” Lex told him, leading him from the room by the hand. “Because that’s how long it’s going to take to decorate this place.”

“Not with my speed,” Clark said.

Lex turned to look at him. “Huh?”

The two of them didn’t see the smiling face of an angel looking in on them from the frost covered window. Laughter like silver bells filled the snow air as white wings of light took to the twinkling stars. Love is what Christmas is all about.

Unlike people, love doesn’t discriminate. God is love in all its many expressions.

Merry Christmas!


LOVE IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING ENDLESS

Please give me holiday cheer by reviewing. I hope everyone who reads this has a merry and safe Christmas, Yule, Kwanza, Hanukkah, winter Holiday that is coming up just right around the corner.

Flora.

Note: The lyrics for this song were composed by Placid Cappeau de Roquemaure from long, long ago.