Stigmatized
            by Nymph Du Pave

            CHAPTER ONE:
            Whoa…

            ~3 years later~

            "I really don't think so, Clark."

            Clark breathed in deeply, trying to calm his growing frustration.  He caught a whiff of Lana's raspberry shampoo and it calmed him, as did her cool palm on his upper arm.

            He restrained the urge to crack his neck.  "Mr. Kastin, I used to watch your father do it all the time.  He came over to my house, slipped under the sink and fixed it within 25 minutes.  For free, no less.  Now, I wouldn't ask that of you, but please.  Tell me you can do it faster than this- this four hours bull."

            Larry smiled smooth as glass.  Only Lana's hand kept him from throwing the smug, thirty-year-old bastard out of the Talon.

            "First of all, my father had been doing this for thirty, forty years.  And if he had to come back again and again…"  He held his palms up in a shrug.  "Maybe he wasn't as good as he thought.  Or better than you thought."

            Clark ignored the man's insinuation that his own father had been taking the Kents for a ride.  "It was a different pipe almost every time.  Our pipes at the farm are old and we couldn’t afford to replace them-"

            "Well, she can afford to replace these," he interrupted nodding to Lana.  Clark's blood started to boil.  Lana's hand tightened on his arm and he knew it was out of anger, not restraint.

            He was about to step forward and let his fabricated but far more intimidating nature shine through when he was interrupted by a voice as cool and smooth as Larry's smile.

            At the first sign of the voice that smile disappeared.

            "Actually, Lar, she can't.  See, she's not the owner.  I am."

            Clark's inner rage subsided and was replaced by pure shock.  He was positive that he was hearing things, that the voice he heard, couldn't have been…  Just simply couldn't have been.

            He looked up into the mirror on the wall opposite him and his green eyes met clear blue ones.

            Lex.

            Larry swallowed with an audible click.  "Well, then there's no question that the Talon can afford to replace the pipes."

            Lex stopped next to Clark, so close that his black blazer brushed Clark's bare arm.  It was more comfort than Clark could believe.

            No.  Don’t let him do this.

            Something inside him began to… to knot together.

            "Once again, Mr. Kentin, you-"

            "It's Kastin."

            Lex looked thoughtful, then a thin-lipped smile crossed his features.  "Once again, Mr. Kastin, you're wrong."  He walked towards the Talon's bar.  "You see, I can afford the fixtures, as can my father.  But the Talon…"  he shook his head.  "It's very popular, but to let you in on a little secret, it's been having a few financial downers.  Just a bad season."  He gave a genuine smile to Lana who was just as shocked to see him here as Clark.

            Clark could have sworn Lex's gaze seemed to linger on the girl's hand, still on Clark's arm, before it swerved back to Kastin, countenance growing chilly.

            "I'm a businessman," he continued.  "Neither my father nor I maintain the quality of our surnames by way of charity."

            Kastin shifted on his feet.  "Well, then you understand, Mr. Luthor, that it'll cost-"

            "I'll do it," interrupted Clark, surprising himself.

            Larry barked out a sharp and unpleasant laugh.  "You?"

            "Clark?"  Lana's voice was collected and her hand moved from his arm.

            He turned to her.  "Yeah?"

            She looked up to him with her eyebrows raised.  "Do you know what you're saying?  Would you know what to do?"

            "Of course."  He grinned at her big brown eyes, wanting to be the hero again.  He liked being important to her, being important to someone other than his parents.  She'd been his best friend for the past two years, since he, Pete and Chloe had their gradual growing apart, all three heading in different directions.  Since Lex had left him.  Turned on him.

            Betrayed him.

            Lana knew Clark, everything he had inside, and he never felt as though he could do enough for her.  The way she held the light for him, even on his absolute worst days…  "I wouldn't have offered if I didn't know what I was doing."

            "I'm sure."  Larry laughed again.  He brushed past Clark and stopped next to Lana, handing her his card.  "Give me a ring when the kid's done making it worse."

            As Kastin walked out, Clark met the eyes of a very amused Lex.

            "You're kidding me, right?" Lex started.

            Clark glared at Lex and the surprised older man took a step back.  Three years and this is what I get from you? Clark thought.  Like you never left?  Like I just saw you in the Beanery yesterday?  What the fuck?

            "Clark," Lana moved to stand in front of him.

            He looked down at her, glare melting away and a small smile filling it’s place.  “Yeah?”

            Clark saw Lex's reaction over the top of Lana's head.  His eyes were darkening over.  He didn't like it that Lana got the attention first.

            Comes back here after so long, expects all the attention.  A big ‘hurrah’ no doubt.  A ‘look! The rich boy’s back’ and an innocent little farmboy to fall at his knees and beg forgiveness for the stupid things he'd done, the rift he'd caused.

            Well, Clark hadn’t been innocent in a very long time and had no intention of giving Luthor what he wanted.

            He let his hand brush back a strand of chestnut hair from Lana's face.  Since his feelings for her were full of nothing but friendly intent, touches like these were allowed and often reciprocated.  They were okay, seen as something borne of more brotherly affection than anything else.  She knew where his heart and heat resided.  But that didn't mean Lex had to know why touches came freely from both ends.  Clark was going to give Lana all the attention she needed, just like he would if Lex hadn't suddenly dropped in.

            Screw him.

            "Please, Clark."  She held up the plumber's card.  "Don't make me use this."

            "I won’t.  And don't be worried.  I'm not," he lied.  The look on her face proved she knew him too damn well to fall for his reassuring sweet talk.  He held up his hands in surrender.  "Look, I'll go get my father and his tools.  Okay?"

            She smiled at him and he saw Lex shift out of the corner of his eye.  He was either uncomfortable at Clark's closeness with Lana, or impatient with being ignored.

            Try three fucking years of being ignored, Luthor, he thought.

            Lana shook her head.  "No, I-  I don't want to keep using your father.  He's got enough-"

            "Not nearly enough," he said cupping her face.  "Trust me.  He loves helping.  And you pay well."

            She rolled her eyes.  "Nell's brownies are horrible."

            "Yeah, but the free flowers surprise my mom."  Hs shook his head.  "Although I could live without the romantic aftermath."

            Lana giggled, an action becoming more and more common as their friendship grew, and he kissed her forehead.  "I'll be back, okay?"

            She nodded and Clark dropped his hand.   He walked out the door of the Talon not even bothering to look at Lex.