Clark & Lionel

“*Your secret is safe with me... Kal-El.*”
―{{{2}}}

**Clark & Lionel** is the friend/familyship pairing between Clark Kent and Lionel Luthor from *Smallville*.

Over the years,Clark and Lionel have a relationship that starts them off of enemies and eventually evolves into a friendship/father-son relationship

## History

### Overview

Lionel Luthor and Clark Kent have a rocky relationship since their first meeting.

After at least two years trying to figure out Clark's secrets, Lionel's eventually found out that Clark Kent was the Traveler/Kal-El when Lionel held one of the Kryptonian stones. However, he didn't know about Clark's powers until he used them to save Martha and Lionel in "Mercy."

After being possessed by Jor-El, Lionel grew closer to Clark and more distant from Lex. He would often address Clark as "son," much to his discomfort. Despite their differences, Kal often went to Lionel for help whenever he was a last resort.

### Season 7

He tried all that he could to protect Clark, even resorting to kidnapping him, and Lionel's protection dissolved into control.

## Tropes

* "Freaky Friday" Flip: With Clark in Season 4's "Transference."
* Secret Secret-Keeper: In "Cyborg," the 15th episode of Season 5, Lionel knows about Clark's powers
* So Proud of You: Leaves a message like this for Clark to listen to posthumously.
* Parental Substitute: Lionel tried acting like a father figure for Clark after Jonathan's died. After Lionel's demise in "Descent," Clark finally acknowledged his fallen friend as a father figure when he sprinkles dirt on his grave in a similar fashion to what he did for Jonathan in season 5.
* Intergenerational Friendship: A somewhat close but twisted one
* Fire-Forged Friends: Clark and Lionel were enemies and became friends. However, Clark still doesn't trust him
* Odd Friendship: Forms a not so solid one with both Chloe and Clark.
* Like A Son: Lionel started to treat Clark as a son in later episodes.

## Fandom

Both Clark and Lionel's relationship is rarely seen in fanfiction. Archive of Our Own only had three fics. Because of the Superman / Spider-Man parallels, they can be compared to Peter and Norman Osborn's.

The Smallville wiki points out the father-son relationship between the two on Lionel's page and has a relationship page for the pair.

## Quotes

Season 5

“*Careful, senator. Don't forget, you and I have a common interest. One that both of us would protect with our lives. I have nothing but respect for a man who would deliberately hurl himself into the spotlight with such a dangerous secret that must stay hidden.*”
―Lionel attempting to form an alliance with Jonathan in protecting Clark

“*Why do I think you saved my life for her sake, not for mine? Whatever the reason thank you, son.*”
―Lionel thanks Clark for saving his life and calling him "son" for the first time

“*Lionel's at my house constantly, acting like he belongs there.*”
―Clark growing agitated that Lionel and Martha are growing closer.

“*Lionel knows about me. About my secret.I don't know how.*”
―{{{2}}}

“*That might work in the Kent family, but Lex is not Clark, and I'm not the father Jonathan Kent was.*”
―{{{2}}}

“*I heard what you said over the video. About what a special boy he is. What'd you mean by that?"*
"I meant that he's the kind of son a father could be proud of.*”*

―{{{2}}}

“*You take it. You're good, Martha. So many people depend on you. Especially Clark. And we both know that he- What a special boy he is. And now, because Jonathan's gone, he's gonna need you more than ever. To become the man this world so desperately needs. Do it. And go home to your son.*”
―{{{2}}}

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### Season 7

“*Lionel deserves better.*”
―Clark to Chloe
**Clark**: Another person who treated me like a son and died because of it.
**Chloe**: Clark —
**Clark**: Jor-El died getting me on that ship. My dad died of a heart attack from the powers he took on protecting me. And now Lionel's been murdered for protecting my secret.
**Chloe**: They did die for you, Clark. But ultimately, they died for all of us. There was a reason those men were in your life — each of them added something to the man that you are today.

## Trivia

* At the end of his life, Clark finally realized that Lionel really had changed for the better and named him Jor-El and Jonathan as the three father figures who have influenced him in positive ways.
* Clark's relationship with Lionel parallels Peter's relationship with Norman.
* Lionel's ruthless tendencies would sometimes resurface whenever Clark and Lex are threatened.
	+ Both Norman and Lionel are rich billionaires who are incredibly smart and abusive towards their children and view the hero as a son while coldly ignoring the biological child.
* Interestingly, Clark's relationship with Lionel is an antithesis compared to his relationship with Lex. While Lex starts off as a ally towards Clark and ends as an enemy, Lionel transitions from to an ally into an enemy