#i don't care that he likely reaping what he sown he is my is precious

[lillian-luthor]

♛ ┇ The ⅅevil in ⅅisguise

「 — The Devil doesn't come to you dressed in red, with pointy horns. She comes as everything you ever wished for. ✘ 」 “Dr. Luthor?” The room was hardly lit and the only source of light illuminated Lillian Luthor’s features just enough to recognize her. It was an uncanny sight; with her face only half-lighted, her edgy jawline looked even sharper. Ready to strike. Ready to slice. But first, work had to be done. “I said I do not wish to be disturbed.” With dangerous ease, the low voice sneaked across the dark, windowless room like a deadly snake; the bit of light reflecting in her glasses like a flash of warning. She didn’t even bother to look up. “I know,” the young man replied and Lillian would’ve smirked at the nervous undertone had she not been busy with the creation of her newest . . . protégé: Metallo 2.0. “But I think you want to see this.” Lillian’s chest lifted with a deep inhale before she finally tore her gaze away from the computer screens that were currently displaying control charts of vital signs. She needn’t speak because when her piercing blue eyes finally met Jonathan’s, it spoke volumes: This better be good. “Believe me, it is worth your time,” he quickly added and held out a tablet, as if reading her mind. “Mh,” Lillian merely hummed before long fingers draped around the offered object . . . and after a few second, her lips curled into the smirk she had been holding back earlier. “#CatCoCares,” she read aloud, a chuckle following. “My, my, how precious.” “This is bad,” Jonathan nodded as if agreeing, which made Lillian look up at him once more. “On the contrary,” she drawled, handing the tablet back to him. “This is exactly what I have been waiting for.” “I don't— think I understand? It's a fundraiser! It's PRO Alien!” “Yes, I can read just fine. Thank you. And it's finally time to put an end to the Pro Alien Propaganda.” Oh, how she reveled in his naivety. /This/ was the reason why she was in charge. “Dr. Luthor, I— didn't mean to—” Lillian's hand flew up, her palm facing him. “Save it. And update me on /our/ accounts.” Jonathan's facial expression made it abundantly clear that he still had no idea what his boss was up to, but he knew better than to question her because everyone who dared to ..., well. He was smart, yes, but not as smart as her and he admired her greatly for it. The way she made plans, the way she always prepared for every possible situation, the way she executed her plans— or executed... Not to mention the way she had resurrected and modified a dead man. Yes, Jonathan knew better than to question Dr. Lillian Luthor and so, with a few quick swipes on the tablet, he pulled up their accounts. “Looks like Metallo's little speech in court caught more attention than we originally thought. Our donors did not only double, they— Here, see for yourself.” “Ah, this is perfect,” Lillian murmured as soon as her eyes fell upon the numbers that seemed to be climbing by the minute. Ever since they had made Project CADMUS publicly known, anonymous donors came pouring in. “I'll be taking Paul with me so he can get the names of everyone playing a big pro-alien game…” She paused while her lips curled into another smirk. “…while I take care of Cat Grant.” Oh, and how she would take care of her. Thoroughly. This plan's seeds had been sown a while ago and it was finally time to reap. And reap she would. “Dr. Luthor,” Jonathan inhaled, “with all due respect—” Lillian quirked a brow. “—you can't show up there. They will recognize you!” And when the woman opened her mouth, the most unexpected of sounds fell from her lips: she laughed... ... and Jonathan had no idea what scared him more. “Oh, Jonathan,” she breathed, handing back the tablet before she pulled off her glasses, “People only see what they want to see. There's a reason why I appeared in public the way I did. Everyone might've looked at me, but they didn't /see/ me. Our enemies saw a tall woman in colorless clothes. They saw the embodiment of evil, the devil incarnate; but believe me, no one will recognize me. Not at first, that is... Because they don't expect the devil to make a colorful entrance, wearing a dashing smile.” And that's when Jonathan knew: Her smile. Her smile was the scariest of them all. He nodded because honestly, he couldn't imagine Dr. Luthor in anything else other than her black attires. Oh, how she'd surprise him. “Now go, put me on that guest list.” “Will do.” He was already on his way out when he turned around a final time. “Under what name?” Lillian's head snapped around once more and with a soft hum, she leaned back in her chair, blankly staring at him for a second— until she knew. This special game called for a worthy name. “My real name.” “Your—?” Even after all those years, this woman was still able to surprise him— and to send a shiver down his spine. “What's your real name?” “Lilly-Ann Young.” Her smirk was audible this time. It was the name Cat Grant's future nightmares would be made of— unable to shake; impossible to forget, e v e r.