Title: Core
Series/Sequel: We'll see what happens.
Author: Lydia aka Vinca
Pairing(s): Clark/Lex
Category: AU Angst Drama
Warnings: None yet.
Disclaimers: Smallville characters not mine *pout*
Summary: Prequel to Kidnapped
Part 1
With a harsh cry Clark sat up gasping for air. He slowly lowered the
arms that had been outstretched as if reaching someone.
"Crap!" He flopped back down on the bed of his college dorm room and
shivered. That dream had been occurring on a regular basis recently
and every time, he woke up startled. But for the life of him, he
couldn't see past the fog that clouded the dream. He knew it had a
woman in it, gesturing him to her.
One thing he did know for sure is that it freaked him out to no end.
As usual he couldn't fall back asleep, so he got up and got ready for
the day. He had started saving his homework for these mornings he
woke up extra early from his dream-alarm, and got down to it. Soon
when he looked up after completing it, he saw it was time to leave.
When he got to his first class, Mike, took one look at him and shook
his head. "Late night man?" Clark sighed and nodded settling down
beside him.
Mike was distracted from his pending interrogation when the majority
of the football team passed by the door. Yelled greetings from both
sides filled Clarks ears and he grimaced, but waved back when
attention was directed his way.
Clark found it highly ironic that several of his friends were jocks.
It seemed he went from one extreme of being picked on by jocks, to
the next of being enfolded into their circle. He'd been introduced by
Mike, who he'd helped study for several tests, and with him being so
grateful he had invited him to hang with the guys. To Clarks'
surprise, he'd accepted and actually had a good time.
Mike opened his mouth to continue the conversation, when the bell
rang and the professor walked into the classroom and began their
lesson. Mike tore off a piece of paper and wrote on it before passing
it to Clark.
'We'll talk after class, kay?' Clark nodded and then tuned everything
partially out. He'd discovered he could listen with half an ear
literally, so that he'd know exactly when the professor asked him a
question. And being ahead of the class by several months, he wasn't
too concerned about missing anything.
He reflected back on his dream and shivered involuntarily. He didn't
know why it bothered him so, but something that he couldn't put a
finger on was skimming in his subconscious. He finally gave up trying
to pin it down when the bell rang and their assignment given to do
over their break. He jotted it down (he'd become extremely distracted
lately, so he wouldn't chance it to his memory) and flew out of class
with everyone else. Mike was by his side, and on the way out he
drilled him on what was wrong.
Clark shrugged. "It's just some freaky dreams. Nothing's really
wrong." Mike gave him a grin and a wink.
"I'd like to have some freaky dreams! What'd you eat before you
slept?" Mike started laughing when Clark rolled his eyes and punched
him in the arm lightly.
"Not those kind of dreams gutter boy. Look I've got to get going. I
still didn't pack everything for break. I'll see you later next
semester.' Mike nodded and waved at him then went to chat with some
girl he'd spotted. Clark smiled to himself and shook his head. He
reminded him of Pete, both of them having the chick radar at full,
and hunter's instincts fore front.
As he walked far enough from the campus, he checked around quickly,
then super-speeded to his dorm building. After locking his door,
everything was packed to go in mere minutes. He sat and waited for
Lex, who'd said he'd be here to pick him and his things up.
He grinned suddenly thinking of home. A whole 6 months with the
people he loved. It would be a blessing that was for sure. 'Maybe
working at the farm will even keep my mind off those strange dreams.'
He heard several loud honks and went to the open window. There was
Lex getting out of the car and leaning against it waiting for him.
Clark waved enthusiastically, closed the window, and grabbed two
duffel bags of his stuff heading out the room, and locking it behind
him.
He was downstairs in no time flat and at the car soon after that. Lex
had popped the trunk open and met him halfway to grab a bag. Clark
took a moment to study his profile as they walked. Lex had on all
black with sunglasses tucked into his leather jacket pocket. As he
turned and gave Clark a smirk, he was hit what time seemed to do for
Lex...Which basically was nothing. The same smirk, self-assuredness,
and confident glide were there. His joy at seeing Clark was indicated
only in the tilt of his head, and the dancing blue-gray eyes.
"How's it going Clark? Excited to visit Smallville? Or are enjoying
your new found freedom?" Lex said with his usual sarcasm and it
filled his heart with joy.
"It's going great now that you're here." At Lex's raised eyebrow
Clark just grinned as this particular chuck of his life was restored
in the flesh. Letters and phone calls kept them close, but it never
seemed to be enough.
He found himself whistling all the way from Metropolis to good 'ol
Kansas, watching corn pass by in a blur. He took an ample breath of
the air whipping past him and grinned again. 'I'm home.'
*
Martha paced back and forth on the porch as Jonathan sat on the swing
rocking back and forth gently. He had tried to get her to sit, but
the excitement of seeing her baby soon gave her way too much energy
to sit. She was s happy this would be the last year her baby was
going to be in college, after he finished the last semester this
fall. She stopped abruptly and squinted at a faint trail of dust that
rose over the cornstalks. Then she heard the hum of Lex's Ferrari.
"Jon! It's them! They're here!" She felt Jon move behind her and wrap
an arm around her waist. The Ferrari was soon visible and it pulled
to a stop in front of the Kent's porch. Clark had barely waited 'til
the car stopped before he jumped out and ran to his family. As they
all shared hugs and a frenzy of kisses from Martha, Lex got Clark's
bags out. He grunted at the weight of both bags and wondered what the
boy had packed in there. Jonathan saw him struggle with the load, and
went to him to take a bag. Lex nodded his thanks and they all
followed Martha and Clark into the house.
"Are you hungry? I made dinner just in case you wanted to eat." Clark
nodded vigorously, and sat down at the table eagerly awaiting his
mother's homemade food. How he had craved it in his dorm room eating
cold pizza.
Lex watched the cozy family scene for a few minutes before clearing
his throat.
"I should be going, but I'll see you around Clark okay." Clark
frowned and got up to grab his arm, preventing him from leaving. He
looked to his parents with the pleading large-eyed look and they
caved before he even opened his mouth.
"Can Lex stay for dinner mom? It would mean a lot to me. Please?" His
mother was already setting his place, and his father nodded in
assent. After all the family had slowly but surely drew Lex in until
he was wedged into their lives. Jonathan didn't even know it until
later on how regular Lex was in his life. Ever since the boy's father
died, while Lex had been waiting to take over his full
responsibilities, Clark had given him a great deal of emotional
support, (even if Lex would never admit to needing it). They had
spent more and more time together until Jon was coming home to
Martha, Clark, and Lex.
Slowly but surely under their influence his hard edges smoothed just
a bit, he smiled a little more, he was readable to the family, though
he was still...Lex... 'Nothing could change that,' Jon thought. He
had a respect for the boy now that he knew him, and took delight in
teaching him how family worked, as well as conversing with the sharp
mind.
Though he admitted Martha had a whole lot to do with it. She drew Lex
to her and didn't let go. He molded to her surprisingly, respecting
her opinion, and listening to everything she said even if he didn't
follow her advice on certain things. His integration into their lives
had helped Clark leave for college, since he wasn't going to go, for
his worry about them taking care of the farm by themselves. But with
Lex's promise to look after them he was managed to go without fear,
since he knew in Lex's hands they would be well taken care of. And it
had been true. The farm had plenty of hands to help now, when Jon
gave him permission to hire them. Jon especially liked the fact that
Lex was respectful of him and didn't push about helping them pay off
the farm. A many of those conversations they had had been about that
matter.
Soon Lex was seated in the spot that became his over time and went
with the Martha Kent flow. In other words sit there, do as she says,
and nod. He had been uncomfortable watching them, feeling like an
outsider, even though he knew they didn't think of him that way, but
it was dispelled with the light chatter about everyone's whereabouts,
and lives. Lex had watched Clark closely when he was told about Lana
and Whitney's engagement. Besides seeming to be completely happy for
them, there was nothing. No bitterness or tears held back. Just
nothing. That interested Lex a great deal and he intended to drill
Clark at the soonest convenience.
He knew Clark wasn't infatuated with Lana anymore (time away from her
and back one break had disillusioned him of his vision of her), but
he'd thought Clark would take more interest in the matter. Soon
between Clark and Jonathan wolfing down everything in sight, the food
was eaten and the table cleared. Clark went up to unpack his things
while Lex was in charge of putting away the dishes as Martha washed
and Jon dried. Several years ago if someone told him he'd be in the
Kent's kitchen, helping with the dishes, he'd have laughed in their
face and had them instituted. But now it was sort of routine when he
ate with them. 'Thank god they don't make me wash or dry.' He thought
as stretched to place a bowl on the top shelf. As they finished up he
glanced at his watch.
"I've really do have to go now. I have a meeting tonight with the
company's' division heads. Oh and I'll tell the farm hands to take a
vacation since Clark is back if you like." Martha and Jon nodded
their consent, and said goodbye, while Clark walked him to his car.
"Well you come down later? We have a lot to catch up on." Lex looked
up into Clarks pleading eyes and gave him a real smile (those smiles
were exclusive and a rare gift indeed), and the sunset's mosaic of
colors turned Lex's eyes violet, made his heart skip a beat then
speed up in a way that had him breathing deeply. Lex's scent, mixed
with some enchanting fragrance, wafted up to him on soft Kansas air
and he unconsciously leaned closer to the warm body heat Lex was
exuding. Lex's heart beat softly in his ears and his own seemed to
take the rhythm up. Lex's voice snapped him out of his daze.
"Of course Clark. I'll catch up with you soon. Later." With that Lex
hopped in his car and drove off with the flair that seemed to
accompany him naturally.
Clark stared after the Ferrari with a pained look on his face. 'I
thought I had controlled these urges.' He thought as he headed up the
steps to his house. Not long ago he'd been getting this force deep
inside him that brought a myriad of feelings within him. Lately they
had been directed towards his best friend. Just then for a moment
everything had stopped and he had been totally entranced with Lex. He
was the only thing he could smell, hear, see, and had been this close
to tasting him and touching the smooth fragile flesh. Like every
sense he had was tuned to Lex-a-vision.
He groaned at that particular thought and banged his head against a
post on the porch. 'Why does life have to be so complicated? Why am I
going through this? What does it mean?' He asked the world at large.
It was silent, and gave him no answers.
*
Deep within the storm cellar under the tarp, Clark's pod flickered to
life. The presence within the ships' core sensed its charge in
confusion, and bewilderment as well as a deep-seated pain, for things
that he did not know about himself. The pod hummed deeply, and
flashed several lights before everything went quiet again. While the
world could not give answers to young Kal-El, she certainly could.