LIBERTY by mako

Part Three

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Even the meeting between the Pilgrims and the Indians couldn't have been this awkward, Clark thought as his father stared in silent disbelief at the young bald man standing in their front yard, suitcase in hand. Clark peered nervously from Lex to his father, who stood dumbfounded, as if an alien had landed and he'd forgotten all about its scheduled arrival.

Not a word was spoken for a long moment and Lex slid a glance at Clark, clearly indicating a resounding: 'I Told You So, I Definitely Told You So."

Things were looking bad, until a miracle appeared.

A miracle in the form of, of course, his mother.

"What a pleasant surprise. Welcome, Lex," said Martha Kent, reaching out and tugging Luthor into her arms. "We're so glad you decided to stay."

At first Lex looked terrified, as if a deadly anaconda had looped around him ready to squeeze his life away inch by inch but he slowly relaxed into the embrace and closed his eyes, perhaps imagining a similar hug from another woman like Martha, long ago.

Martha pulled back and nodded toward her husband who continued to stare at Lex as if he were an invader from a faraway galaxy. "Jon, aren't we glad to have Lex here? Jon?"

Clear warning in her tone and Jonathan Kent jumped to attention. "Oh. Yes, welcome, Lex," he stammered, tentatively shaking Lex's hand. "Welcome to our home."

"Thank you, Mr. Kent." Formal reply, and suddenly there was peace in the land.

Clark breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay," he said. "Are you ready for the grand tour?"

He smiled at Lex and was glad to see a grin in return. "Sure."

"Now, now, Clark. First comes lunch," insisted Martha, shooing them all toward the main house. "You must be famished. And don't say you aren't because I know better."

What Clark did know better was than to argue with designated feeding times so he let his father show Lex the way toward the kitchen door while he hung back by his mother's side, listening as she leaned in toward him, whispering furtively.

"That boy is too skinny," she said with a 'tsk.' "I'd better get out the fryer."

"Good idea, Mom." He imagined Lex's face when confronted with a steaming plate of corn fritters, fried chicken and biscuits and bit back a laugh. Mr. Bottled Water wasn't going to have an easy time of it at the Kent House of Home Cooking but all in all, Clark thought ...

That might be the best thing for him, cholesterol be damned.

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The last day of school at Smallville High was always hectic and as usual, Pete and Chloe didn't make things much easier for Clark. Only two hours left in the day and they were still processing the news about Lex Luthor's stay at Kent Farms.

Processing it in their own special fashion, that is. "Pahs the cav-ee-har, will you, Chlo-ee?"

"Cer-hertainly, Peetah."

Clark continued to clean out his locker, trying without success to ignore his friends' ribbing. "You guys have it all wrong."

"About what, my dear Mr. Kent?" Chloe sniffed as Pete sniggered behind her.

"About Lex. He's not like that at all."

Chloe laughed outright. "You're kidding, right? The Luthors had a charity dinner last year where they raised five million dollars, which Lionel matched from his own pocket. Lex is beyond rich, he's filthy rich and you're not only rubbing elbows with him, he's living at your house."

"Lex may be rich, but he isn't snobby at all and besides, he's just visiting." Clark pushed his locker shut with a clang. "Everybody needs to get away once in a while, especially after what he's been through."

A pair of sky blue eyes rolled hugely. "Rii-ght. So let me get this straight. Out of all the places in the world Lex Luthor can go to relax, he chooses your parents' farm? That's crazy."

A niggle of irritation chipped at Clark and he fought it down. "Why? Is there something wrong with our farm? Lots of people from the city like to visit farms. It's comforting."

More laughter and Clark stuffed his schoolbag with books, trying his hardest not to tear the material. Five backpacks a year were his limit, no matter what.

"Yeah, right. Wait till he gets kicked by Devil-Cow," said Pete, wincing at the memory of his own painful encounter with the Kent's angriest bovine. "He won't be too comfortable then."

"I think Devil-Cow should be afraid of Lex," snarked Chloe. "He might give her some special grass from LuthorCorp."

The backpack hit the ground with a thud. "Jeez guys, will you knock it off?" Glowering, and Clark couldn't believe how annoying his friends were being. He began to think a summer away from them wasn't going to be the hardship he'd originally thought. "It's not such a big deal. He's spending the summer on the farm and that's it." He took a deep breath. "And stop picking on Lex. He's my friend, all right?"

Angrily said, and he wondered at himself. Maybe Chloe and Pete were right but for the first time he could remember, Clark just didn't want to hear it. His version of Lex was the one he wanted to hold onto even if there were other, just as reasonable, versions coming in from all sides.

The Lex of his world was different. The Lex of his world had grey eyes that lit up when Clark walked in a room and laughed at his jokes -- made him feel special and needed. Told him about new things and was patient and understanding when he didn't quite understand. Never made him feel foolish or awkward, always treated him with equal respect even when Clark wasn't sure he deserved it. The Lex of his world was, well ...

His Lex. And that's the way it was going to stay, no matter what anyone else said.

The laughter quieted. "Clark," said Chloe, obviously exasperated. "Lex Luthor isn't anyone's friend. Not here in Smallville. The Luthors use this town for their own profit and ignore the actual human beings who live here. The environmental record of all their holdings is atrocious. I mean, do you poison your friends?"

"I gotta go," snapped Clark. He retrieved his bag and pushed past both teens, head throbbing. "See you in September."

Chloe gaped after him. "September? But ... but ..."

"Yeah. What about our swim tryouts? The State Fair visit?" yelled out Pete, but it was too late.

Clark Kent had already left the building.

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Nightfall on the Kent farm and Lex Luthor sat down heavily on the rollaway mattress that was to serve as his bed during his stay. Clark had offered him his bed instead but Lex had adamantly refused. The rollaway was fine, his dorms in England hadn't been much better and besides, Clark's legs would hang off the end by at least a foot, Lex claimed, while his smaller frame would be the better fit.

Clark hadn't argued and they'd settled comfortably into the arrangement. Lex presence already made the vast loft a bit less vast, a bit more like a room instead of a barn with a bed. Clark wasn't sure if he'd have felt this way with any other visitor, but with Lex, it all seemed natural ... and right.

Lex sighed and gingerly placed a hand over his stomach. "Ugh," he grimaced. "Thanks to your Mom, I'm now the creature that ate Metropolis."

"She thinks you're too skinny." Clark turned down his bedcovers with a smirk. "So get ready to be fed like never before."

"Fattening me up for Thanksgiving? Can't I just donate a turkey?"

"We done shoot our own turkeys for the table, city boy," Clark drawled. "Ain't no store bought birds on this here farm."

Laughter, and Lex stretched out over the bed with a contented sigh. "Why, I do believe I feel a pea," he proclaimed a moment later, with an exaggerated squirm.

"Nah, we don't waste peas like that." Clark tossed a pillow at him, which Lex caught single-handedly. "It's probably a rock."

Lex chuckled. "That's all right then. You know, from the age of five, my father used to make me sleep in the yard in a pup tent once a year. Since our 'yard' was half the size of this town, I didn't pay much attention to the rocks. Too busy waiting for the bears." He tucked the pillow under his head. "He said it was to build toughness."

"Toughness? Sounds like he was trying to build the world's most terrified kid," Clark said disdainfully. He was liking Lionel Luther less and less and since he didn't like him that much to begin with ...

"Don't worry, Clark, he didn't succeed," Lex said, as he linked his hands behind his head. "In fact, I think Dad may have had a point. If we face our fears head on they'll have little if any impact on us the second time around."

"Really? And how many times are we frightened by the same thing?" Clark asked, toeing off his work boots. "How can being left alone in the dark all night prepare you for anything?"

"You'd be surprised," replied Lex quietly and Clark winced.

Idiot. Lex had been forced to survive alone in the dark after the kidnapping and again, Clark felt like a moron. Maybe if he just shut up completely ...

But as usual, Lex didn't seem to care. "Goodnight, Clark. See you when the rooster crows," he yawned, already sounding sleepy. His eyes closed and Clark was surprised to see that Lex was already deep asleep.

"Goodnight, Lex," Clark whispered, not making any move to go to bed, just watching the gentle rise and fall of Lex's chest as he slept. He looked so peaceful and so very young, the mask of sarcastic adulthood fallen away, leaving nothing but innocence behind. The urge to reach out, to brush Lex's cheek and make sure he was all right overwhelmed Clark and his hand was already halfway there before he jerked it back with a gasp.

What the hell? Now that's a great way to lose someone's friendship, Clark thought, his mouth turning dry at what he'd almost done. As if poor Lex hadn't been through enough, dealing with a busy-handed doofus was the last thing he needed.

Of course, why his hand had decided to wander toward Lex wasn't something Clark was going to debate, not now, not ever. He was just a goof, one who always messed up and he vowed that he was going to change at least that aspect of his personality.

Lex deserved better, and that's what he was going to get. No matter what.

Clark clicked off the lights and huddled beneath his covers and closed his eyes.

And wondered why sleep refused to come.

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The night passed slowly as Clark tossed and turned for fifth time, grumbling inwardly. Insomnia had never been a problem and he could see why people went insane from it. He irritably fought with his blankets then stilled when he heard what sounded like a soft moan coming from Lex's bed.

Listened carefully and nearly fell over when the sound turned into a muffled scream. Fumbled for the light, clicked it on and squinted over at the other bed, shocked at what he saw.

Lex. Sitting bolt upright, sweating, terror and tears etched over his face.

Heart pounding, Clark gaped at him for a minute, then scurried over and knelt down at Lex's bedside. "Are you okay?" Ridiculous question, it was obvious that his friend was not okay but Clark had no idea of what else to say -- yet again.

Lex shook his head. "No," he said, breathing harshly. "I don't think so."

Not good, not good at all. "Okay. What can I do for you?" Clark tamped down the urge to call for his mother. Lex was a big boy now, so he should at least be one too and try deal with this himself. The operative word being "try." "Should I get someone? Something? Anything?"

"No."

Short answer, and Clark reached out to touch Lex's hand, shocked at how cold it was. Just like the night when he'd rescued him from the fields -- Lex was icy, white and trembling all over.

"All right," Clark said with an authority he didn't feel. "Come on, get up and come over here." He rose and gently tugged Lex up, pulling him along like a child behind him. "Lay down," he said, pointing at his bed. "It's drafty over there and anyway, that thing sucks. It'd give me nightmares too."

Lex looked at the bed, then at Clark and hesitated. "This is your bed. I don't want to throw you out of your bed."

"You're not going to," Clark insisted. He pulled the blankets up and practically pushed Lex beneath them, then wrapped them up to his chin. Worked his way to the other side of the bed and lay down on the narrow strip that was left, smiling. "See? Big enough for two."

"You don't have any blankets," replied Lex quietly, not looking at him.

"Don't need 'em. I complain about the heat in the middle of winter." Clark clicked off the light and waited tensely. Maybe he'd been too overbearing, maybe he'd done the wrong thing, maybe this had all been a colossal mistake and Lex would run back to his castle as fast as he could at dawn, and ...

Clark heard a sigh and suddenly felt the very odd sensation of someone snuggling against him.

Lex. Curling next to him, his forehead against Clark's arm, his hand resting lightly atop his.

Oh, Lord. That felt so ...

Oh, God. Clark forced himself not to stiffen and pretended not to be affected in the slightest. Rushing blood pounded through his ears, his heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest but he ignored it all and simply waited. Waited for Lex to fall asleep, for his own body to stop betraying him so badly and maybe for another blessed meteor shower to come and take him out of the world the exact same way he'd been brought into it.

Anything less and he wasn't sure he'd survive the night.

"Thanks, Clark." Sleepy Lex voice again, and slowly, his breathing turned light and steady.

"You're welcome Lex," Clark replied hoarsely, staring at the ceiling, knowing that sleep had fled until the dawn came to save him.

Heaven knew, it couldn't come soon enough.

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end of Part Three

CLICK HERE for Part Four

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