Nice to make your acquaintance Mr. Wayne.

"Well, isn't this just precious?"

Still holding Lex in my arms, I swung around. Cautiously, I watched as the front door slowly closed. Standing behind it, shrouded by shadows, was a lone man. His hands stuffed into his pockets, he regarded us for a second before stepping out of the darkness.

Feeling Lex struggle against me, I lowered him to the ground. Instantly, Lex straightened his shirt and jacket. Running his right hand over his head, Lex said, "Hello, Bruce."

Glancing at me, Bruce asked, "Is he okay?"

"Yeah, let me introduce you. Bruce Wayne this is my boyfriend, Clark Kent. Clark this is Bruce Wayne."

Before I could say hi, Bruce inquired, "Boyfriend?"

"For real this time, Bruce."

He looked me up and down suggestively before saying, "I should have known. He doesn't exactly look like some of the cheap tricks you've brought here before."

Standing there quietly, I didn't know whether to be offended by that or not. I decided to let it go as I heard Lex ask, "What are you doing here?"

Putting out his right hand, Bruce shook Lex's hand as he replied, "Taking advantage of our agreement."

Lex shook Bruce's hand tightly as he asked, "Where is she?"

Bruce looked up at the ceiling and answered, "Upstairs."

"You'd like us to leave, huh?"

"It'd be nice."

"Well, then we'll be moving along, but let me give you notice that next weekend I want this place."

"Noted."

Glancing over his shoulder, Lex ordered, "Let's go, Clark."

Bruce opened the door. He held it open as we left. As I passed in front of him, he leaned toward me and said, "It was very nice meeting you, Clark."

Swallowing hard, I politely responded, "Yeah."

Arching an eyebrow, he closed the door behind our backs. Silently, we walked back to the car. Once inside the car, I turned to Lex and asked, "Do you know anybody who isn't intimidating or slightly strange?"

Looking up, Lex stroked his chin as he considered my inquiry. After a couple minutes, he met my eyes and answered, "I kind of know Pete."

In response, I started laughing. Shaking my head, I said, "Don't be like that. He's my oldest friend."

Shrugging, Lex countered, "You asked."

Then, Lex started the engine. As we drove out of the estate, I asked, "So, what do you want to do, now?"

 

Change of plans.

I drove slowly trying to decide what to do. I couldn't kick Bruce out of the house, he used it seldom and whomever he was with needed a low profile, meaning she was probably married. We'd had each other's back for a long time so it was worth the inconvenience to give him the privacy.

At the highway, I turned toward Metropolis. I hadn't wanted to use the penthouse, too close to dad. But we needed someplace his parents couldn't get to in a hurry. We needed to have a serious conversation, and a little loving would be good as well.

He hummed along with the radio, his hand on my leg again, unconcerned about our destination. In the short amount of time since we'd become lovers a lot had happened and we'd had very little time to just relax together.

So as the miles passed by we were silent, each thinking our own thoughts. I knew it would be easy to have Clark emancipated. But I also knew that would lead to a lot of bad blood between the Kents and me.

Truth was, as much as I wanted him in my bed and my life I knew he still had some growing up to do. It had been drilled into me from an early age to think to the future, so I was doing that.

When I'd introduced him to Bruce there had been a difference to my tone. I'd called other boys, boyfriend, but Bruce knew me well enough that he'd realized the word was for their benefit. This was the first time I'd ever used it for mine. Clark was beautiful enough to tempt even the straightest of men to walk on the other side. I wanted my territory marked.

Before I pulled into the parking garage in the tower, I told Clark a little of what was going through my head.

"We're going up to the penthouse. I'd like you to check it out before we talk. My father may have bugged it."

"Okay."

"Once we know it's clean I want you to call your mother."

"Call my mother? You're kidding right?"

"No, I'm not. I don't want you to tell her where you are, just that you're with me. I'll let you use my cell so she can't get the penthouse number."

"Why, Lex?"

"We're going to establish boundaries. I hope to make them understand that we are going to continue to see each other. I'm through skulking around. If I have to play hardball I will."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I will be polite and respect their wishes on most things. The fact is you are above the age of consent, gay sex is no longer illegal and you're old enough to be emancipated. You could walk away from them and there would be nothing they could do."

"I don't think I can do that."

"I'm not asking you to. I think the threat alone will be enough to make them reassess the attitude they have toward us. I don't want to separate you from your parents, Clark. I just want them to accept you as you are and tolerate me."

"That may be easier said than done."

"I'm sure it will be. They don't want to see their baby as a man. That's a fairly universal feeling. The shock of finding out that you're gay and with a man they hate has just exacerbated the whole thing."

"They accept everything else about me, why not this?"

"Clark, it's not logical. Humans aren't logical most of the time."

I parked and led the way to the private elevator. Using my key I made a mental note to get keys made for Clark. I watched Clark as he scanned the interior of the elevator. I knew when he spotted the security camera; I nodded when he pointed to it. His eyes continued around and he indicated another portion of the car. I frowned and he turned toward it, only my hand on his arm stopped him from pulling out the additional spy ware.

In the penthouse he soon found several bugs, I had him dispose of them. When he was sure that the place was clean, I handed him my cell phone.

"You really want me to do this?"

"Yes, I do."

"What should I say?"

"Just tell her you're with me and that you'll be back home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"How long did you think I was going to keep you here?"

"I, ah, well…"

"Clark, we need to keep down the anger level if we can."

"I just want to be with you. I hate being away from you."

"I know. The sooner you make the call, the sooner I can rip your clothes off and do nasty things to you."

He took the phone from my hand and dialed. I walked away from him to give him privacy but with a whoosh of air he appeared in front of me. He shook his head at me as he said hello.

"Hello, Mom. /// I'm with Lex. He didn't want you to worry."

His frown grew, then he spoke again. "I'm not coming home tonight. We aren't going to stop seeing each other and you have to accept that."

His hand reached for me as he closed his eyes. I took his hand and slipped my free arm around him. "Don't push me, Dad. /// Because if you keep trying to come between us you're going to lose me, forever. I love Lex. /// He knows all he needs to know. /// I'm hanging up now."

He hit the button to shut off the phone, dropped it on the floor and grabbed me with both hands. I held on to him as he shook in my arms. After a while he started to suck on my neck and I pulled him along the hallway to my bedroom.

I let him guide the action, wanting to give him whatever he needed. He undressed us and pulled me down onto the bed with him. He didn't seem to be in a hurry for a change. He knew we had all night so he was going to savor the time. I had no problems with that.

I let myself get lost in the feel of our flesh rubbing together as we shared long, soft, wet kisses.

 

Heaven

Last night, I experienced the single, most wonderful night of my life. And it wasn't all about sex.

Cool, huh?

Yeah, we had sex last night. It was great, as always. We had so much time on our hands that we took turns – More than once; but that wasn’t the best thing. The best thing was that we talked last night. Not about anything important. Nor dramatic. No super-important revelations were made (Unless you count the fact that he admitted to having every episode to the television show, "Saved By The Bell").

We just talked. We recounted past experiences and sang (badly) the theme song to "Silver Spoons." Facing each other, we rested on our sides and laughed light-heartedly. We placed feather light touches on each other’s faces and smiled until our eyes sparkled. We talked until we got so tired that we couldn’t keep our eyes open and then, we talked some more.

To put it simply, we enjoyed each other.

Waking up this morning, I knew I had hell to pay when I got home. Feeling Lex press against my back, I couldn’t bring myself to care. As I reached up to grasp the arm that sometime during the night wrapped itself around my shoulder, I knew all of the nasty words my Mother threw at me and all of my Father’s threats were a price I’d happily pay for just one more day with him.

As we got dressed, we glanced over at each other. We blushed a lot. I felt more nervous than when we first had sex. As we walked out the door, Lex stopped me. He cupped my cheek in his palm as he smiled up at me. Running his thumb across my skin, he mused, "You’re so much more than I could have ever hoped for."

Leaning down, I kissed him. It felt different. It confused me and my confusion showed as I pulled away. He stared at me for a moment before taking my hand and pulling me toward the elevator. He laughed lightly as he turned the elevator key, summoning the elevator. It wasn’t until we stepped into the elevator car that I realized what was different – I needed him.

Like air. Like sunlight. I needed Lex Luthor in my life. It made me afraid and excited all at once. Before reaching the ground floor, I pulled him into my arms and kissed him. As I let him go, I blushed. Smiling, Lex nodded and whispered, "I know, Clark. Me, too."

Then, he left the elevator. Walking across the parking lot, we jumped in his car and drove away.

 

Hell

The closer we got to Smallville the more he fidgeted. I knew he was worried about the confrontation that we'd be having with his parents in the near future. I was nervous myself.

Clark's life was never going to be an easy one. Once he'd chosen to be with me the degree of difficulty multiplied by a ratio of about a thousand. All I could do was stand by him, offer the support he needed, and hope they would get over the anger soon.

I pulled into the Kent yard and groaned as the screen door banged against the side of the house as Jonathan charged out the door. Martha was in hot pursuit and Clark was already around the car getting between them and my door.

I opened my seatbelt and nudged the door gently against Clark's ass. He looked down at me ignoring the angry voices yelling at me.

"Let me out, Clark."

"Lex, I think you should go."

"No, Clark, move."

He stepped away from the car but kept himself between Jonathan and me. Martha's voice was the one that I heard clearest.

"Lex, how could you? He's a naïve boy. He belongs here in his home at night, not out god knows where, doing god knows what with the likes of you."

"Mom!"

"Stop this and listen for a minute." I used the voice I'd acquired for dealing with out of control meetings. I was pleased when they all stopped talking and turned to look at me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Kent, I know you think I'm the wrong man to be with your son. I know you think he should be with Lana or Chloe. First of all you need to accept the fact that Clark is gay. If he weren't with me he'd be with some other man."

"You seduced him. He'd be fine if you had stayed away from him." Martha spoke, Jonathan looked about to stroke out.

"That's not true. I know you wish it was, but it's not. Get over it. Point two, he is old enough to decide whose bed he wants to share, again, not your decision. Three, if you don't stop interfering you will lose him."

"Get off my land, Luthor." Jonathan tried to push past Clark to get to me. Clark held him easily.

"Mr. Kent, of everyone in the world I'm in the best position to love your son. The easy way he keeps you from getting to me is the very thing that makes me the best choice for him."

I'd said all I intended to say for the time being. Getting back into the car, I started the engine.

"Let's go, Clark. I think they need more time to think about this."

He looked down at me than back at them.

"Please understand, I love him. I need him as much as I need air to breathe. I know you think you know what is best for me, but this time you're just wrong."

He sped around the car and got in beside me. I put the car in gear, pulled out onto the road, and turned toward home. For a change, I actually activated the locking mechanism for the main gate. If Jonathan wanted to visit, he'd need to get past the alarms to get in.

I stopped the car and looked over at Clark. He was slumped in on himself, a posture I hadn't seen since the first night we were together. I put my hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"They love you, Clark. Once they see we mean this, they'll accept it. I don't expect them to ever like it, but they'll find a way to live with it."

I never felt him move but I was in my room suddenly, naked and on the bed with him clinging to me as he wept. I held on and waited for the storm to pass. I don't even remember dozing off.

After our nap we made love, slowly, enjoying the quieter pace. Then we spent the evening eating junk food and watching the newest DVDs that had arrived. It was around ten when the phone call came.

"Luthor."

"Lex, I want my son home."

"That's not my decision to make."

"I think it is. If you tell him to come home he will."

"Why should I do that? So that you can abuse him some more."

"Lex, I've never abused, Clark."

"Yes, Mrs. Kent, you do. It's abuse to make him feel that he needs to be something other than what he is."

"Lex, he has enough issues to face without this one. He's too young to know what he wants and if not for you and your desire for him, he'd be dating Lana."

"You're wrong about that. She had a shot at him before anything happened between us."

I covered the phone and smiled at Clark. "Do you want to talk to your mom?"

"I'm not sure."

"I can tell her no. Give them another night to fantasize about all the perverted things I'm doing to you."

His face scrunched up in a 'yuck that's gross' expression then mutated to a leer as he gripped his crotch. I sputtered as I tried not to laugh, ignoring Martha's demands that I could still faintly hear.

He reached for the phone; I watched as he straightened his spine, when he spoke to her there was no trace of a boy in his voice. This was the voice of the man he would one day be. I was so proud, this was my lover, drawing the boundaries, making his stand clear and putting me first in his life.

I'd never been so happy. We weren't out of Hell yet, but we'd started the journey.

 

Bitter

The next few days were much like the first. After spending the night with Lex, we would drive out to the farm, where my parents would be waiting with some new insult or accusation. The words would start cutting through the air and, inevitably, Lex got fed up and ordered me back in the car. As we drove away, my parents would follow, still yelling foul comments.

By the fifth day, I couldn't do it anymore. The uncomfortable feeling it gave me turned into a bitter taste of which I couldn't rid myself. I'd never run from anything in my life and I didn't like doing it now. Sure, I talked on the phone with my parents and I faced them at the farm, but when the temperature soared, I gladly let Lex lead me away. Now, I knew what needed to be done. I needed to stop running.

Appropriately, I came to this realization at the very place we were turned away from that first night - Lex's hidden estate. In bed, Lex asleep by my side, I sat staring at the far wall. Sadly, I looked over at Lex and thought, 'I love you, but I love them, too.'

Shaking him awake, I waited until Lex rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Once his weary eyes were fixed upon me, I said, "Lex, this has to end tomorrow."

He went deathly pale. "But. But, Clark. Why?"

"I can't keep going like this, Lex. It's killing me."

Sitting up, sleep banished from his face, Lex hissed, "I don't believe this."

I reached out to touch him, but he cringed away. Looking him in the face, I declared, "Tomorrow, I have to go back to my parent's home. I need to face them."

The anger in his face was starting to bother me, so I said, "You're acting like I'm breaking up with you. I mean, really, is it going to be so hard having to share me with my parents?"

"Share?"

"Yeah."

"Back up. You're not breaking up with me."

"No, doofus. Why would I do that? I just need to face this thing with my parents head on. This whole fight and retreat cycle we've gotten into just cannot be permitted to continue."

"You're not breaking up with me?"

"No."

Using his full body weight, Lex pushed me. As I tumbled to the side, I heard him say, "Shithead! Don't scare me like that again."

Silently, he fell back on the mattress. Pulling the blanket up around his ears, he mumbled, "I'll drive you over in the morning."

Getting under the blankets, I pressed my body up against him. With my lips up against his ear, I whispered, "No, in the morning, I'll run over. I need to see them alone."

Rubbing the back of his head against my cheek, Lex sighed, "Okay, if you say so."

Placing a kiss on his cheek, I settled in. I knew I wouldn't have this tomorrow night because I'd be in my parent's house where Lex isn't welcome. Wrapping my arms around him, I held him tightly. For a moment I felt uncertainty, but the feeling was quickly banished by the fact that the taste of bitterness no longer lingered in my mouth.

 

Jealousy; the color of his eyes

I pretended to be sleeping as he rose from our bed the next morning. I hadn't slept much after he woke me during the night. I still couldn't believe the way my heart nearly exploded from my chest when he said it had to end. I knew I was in love, but I hadn't truly realized how totally he'd crawled into my heart.

The last few days had taken a toll on both of us. We'd tried every day and every day we'd been vilified and cursed. I'd let it go on until I was close to doing something that couldn't be taken back then I'd take him away from there.

I wasn't ready to push him into making a break. I knew how much he loves them and I wanted him to find a way to make them understand. He'd repeated to them that he loved me and wasn't giving me up in so many different ways that anyone should have gotten the point.

The day before they had shifted the focus of the attack and I felt that was why he was going home. They had stopped hitting on the gay angle and had switched over to yelling about me. I just hoped it wouldn't be the end of us.

He bent over me and kissed the back of my head. For some reason the boy has always loved my imperfections, the scar on my lip and that damn bump on the back of my head. I rolled over feigning sleepiness.

"Morning, Clark."

"I'm heading for home. I'll call you later."

"Okay. I think I'm going to take a run into Metropolis, do some shopping."

"I have to do this, Lex."

"I know."

"I love you, nothing is going to change that."

"I love you, too, Clark. Go see your parents."

He lifted me effortlessly and gave me a long, slow kiss. I clung to him and when he finally pulled back I gave him my best smile. He lowered me to the bed, and then tucked the covers around me.

"Go back to sleep for a while, I know you didn't sleep much after I woke you."

"I slept fine, Clark."

"Don't even try that. I can tell when you're asleep. Just like I knew you woke up as soon as I got out of bed."

"Get out of here, I need a nap."

He chuckled and kissed the end of my nose before licking one last time over my scar. Then he jumped up and walked toward the door. Turning back, he smiled.

"I know you think they'll wear me down, but they won't. Have faith in me, have faith in us."

"Everyone leaves me, Clark."

"I'm not everyone."

He turned, left the room and I rolled over to bury my face in the pillow. The past week had been eventful. Outside of the issues with his parents, we'd dealt with one of the issues with my father.

A late night run to my father's office and Clark's abilities got us into the safe. The additional information had been burned in my fireplace. I knew he probably had more copies but I enjoyed the idea of getting what he had there and leaving no trace that we'd been there.

We'd also fucked – a lot. The sex between us was fantastic. Better than with anyone else for me. Clark preferred to bottom and I'd let that go on without argument. I knew he was afraid of hurting me. The few times I'd convinced him to let me ride him, he'd been very nervous. It was a situation I hoped would improve with time. Clark is hung and I admit I enjoy being used by a well-endowed man.

No use lying in bed, worrying. Clark had reached a decision and I had to respect that. I crawled out of bed and headed for the shower. Freshly washed and dressed I headed for the car.

I was just a few miles from Metropolis when the phone rang. I grabbed it and said hello.

"Lex, where are you?"

"On the way to Metropolis. Is everything alright?"

"Not really, but I'm hoping we can talk some more later."

"Where are you, Clark?"

"On the campus, between classes. I have to go."

"Yeah. Learn lots."

I turned off the phone and stepped on the gas. I actually spent the day in the stores. I know I have this image, most people probably think I send a valet out to buy my clothes but I enjoy checking out things on my own. The shops I frequented had space set aside for me but other than that, I shop like anyone else.

I also decided to pick up a few things for Clark to wear. The clerk, Rick, raised an eyebrow at the request for items in a larger size than I wear, but once he saw the choices I was making he offered an addition.

"Mr. Luthor, we got in a shipment that hasn't hit the floor yet. There are a couple of things in there you might like. Shall I bring them?"

"Why not?"

I leaned back and sipped the espresso he'd brought for me earlier. He soon returned with a butter soft leather trench coat and hip hugger pants. I instantly got hard picturing Clark's broad shoulders filling out the top as the hem waved around his long legs.

"From the other things you bought I just thought the gentleman would look good in these."

"Rick, you have just insured that I will ask for you whenever I shop in the future. Add this to the tab." I looked at my watch and smiled at him. "Would you like to join me for dinner?"

"I'd be honored, Mr. Luthor."

"I allow dinner companions to call me Lex. Do I need to clear it with your boss?"

"Actually, I was off at five."

"You should have told me."

"I didn't have any plans and it's a pleasure to assist you."

"Well, see that everything is wrapped up and sent to the mansion address. I'll pick you up out front."

I was sitting in the car waiting for Rick when my phone rang again. "Hello, Clark."

"Lex, are you still in Metropolis?"

"Yes, I spent the entire day buying new clothes for us. How was your day?"

"I missed you. School was boring, if any of my teachers were as entertaining as you then I'd enjoy class."

"I sincerely hope your teachers never try to entertain you the way I do. How did things go with your folks?"

Before he could answer, the car door opened and Rick slid into the seat next to me. "Where are you taking me to dinner?"

"Who is that?" Clark yelled into the phone.

"It's Rick."

"And who is Rick?" I smiled at the jealousy in his voice. The little demon in me took over.

"He's the clerk in the store where I was shopping. He was so helpful, stayed after his shift was over to assist me, so I invited him to dinner. I was thinking I'd take him to Romano's they have the best pasta in town."

I looked at Rick to see him grinning. He was savvy enough to know that I was pushing Clark's buttons. "I'd rather have seafood if you don't mind, Lex."

"Since when do clerks call you Lex?"

"Clark, we can discuss this later. I didn't have any lunch and I'm really hungry. I'll call you from the penthouse later. Bye."

I closed my phone and dropped it in my pocket. Putting the car in gear, I pulled out into traffic.

"He's the one you bought the clothes for isn’t he?"

"Yes."

"Why are you trying to make him jealous?"

"Do you think I'm playing games with him?"

"Aren't you?"

"Did you really want seafood?"

"If you don't mind."

"Not at all."

I turned toward a place on the wharf that had become popular just before I moved to Smallville. Leaving the car with the valet, we walked into the restaurant. Just as the hostess was leading us to a table my phone rang. Rick threw me a grin as he slid into the booth.

"Hello, Clark."

"I'm at Romano's. Where the fuck are you?"

"Shouldn't you be taking care of things at home?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm getting ready to have dinner. You should go home and take care of things. I'll call you later."

I closed the phone and turned it off. Turning to smile at Rick, "What would you like? The snow crab is quite good here. Order whatever you want."

I gave the waiter my drink order and settled back to enjoy my meal. Rick was an entertaining dinner companion and I allowed myself to relax. After dinner, I dropped Rick off and drove to the penthouse.

I entered the parking garage, took the elevator, I turned my phone back on as I entered the penthouse. I checked the dial and found that I had a voicemail message. I walked toward the bedroom as I listened to a whiny message that Lana had left me concerning a problem at the Talon that she should have been able to handle on her own.

Cutting off the message in mid whine, I dropped the phone on the bedside table and headed toward the bathroom.

"Did you have a good time with Rick?"

The light clicked on and I looked at Clark sitting on the chaise in the corner.

"He's an entertaining conversationalist."

He was up and on me before the last word left my mouth. He took a deep breath and I knew he was expecting to find the scent of another man on me. I expected him to calm down then but he threw me on the bed. Straddling me, he ripped the clothes off of me while chanting; "Mine," Over and over again.

 

Mine

I waited in that room for hours. Killing time until Lex returned, I got angrier and angrier. Left alone with my own thoughts for too long, I couldn't keep myself from breaking a few expensive pieces of idle bric-a-brac. Letting them crumble in my hand or spark and flame from a well-placed jolt of heat vision, I realized I didn't feel any better. All I could think was 'I leave the bastard for one fucking night and this is what I get?'

When I heard him exit the elevator, I quickly cleared away some of the destruction. Settling into a chair in the corner of his bedroom, I waited in the dark. I heard him enter the penthouse and walk through the rooms. Finally, he came into the bedroom, holding that damn phone. 'Probably, Rick,' I thought as I watched him close the phone and throw it on the bedside table. As he turned toward the bathroom, I called out, "Did you have a good time with Rick?"

Searching for the voice, he spun around. Reaching out with his left hand, he fumbled with the light switch before flicking on the lights. Staring straight at me, Lex replied, "He's an entertaining conversationalist."

In the blink of an eye, I stood up and crossed the floor. Holding him tightly, I searched for traces of this "Rick." I smelled a faint, unfamiliar scent, but there wasn't enough of it for it to be the result of sex. That is unless he showered before coming home, tonight.

Suddenly, that trace of scent enraged me. Picking Lex up by the waist none-too-gently, I threw him onto the bed. His eyes flashed hot and I paused. This was turning him on, I reasoned. That only made me angrier. Climbing onto the bed, I proceeded to tear off his clothes while he gave no resistance. Once he was naked, I stepped off the bed long enough to take off my clothes. For him, it was probably instantaneous as the shock was still in his eyes as I lowered my lips to his chest. Pressing feather light kisses, I whispered against his skin, "Mine."

"Mine."

Soon, I started to chant the small word. "Mine." I kissed his lips. "Mine." Kissed his throat. "Mine." Kissed his stomach. "Mine." Sunk my tongue into his belly button. "Mine." Gripped his hips. "Mine." Grabbed his calves. "Mine." Pushed his knees back up against his chest. "Mine." Straddled his thighs. "Mine." Pressed my erection against his opening. "Mine."

Then, there was silence. Locking Lex in the uncomfortable position, I leveraged my weight against his thighs. It didn't take long for Lex to realize something was wrong. His smile faded into a frown. The hands grasping onto my shoulders fell away as he squirmed beneath me. Soon, his eyes flashed hot with anger as he pushed against me.

Impressing my strength upon him, I pressed down harder, causing him to wince. When he looked at me this time, I asked, "Did you let him fuck you?"

Trying to wiggle free of me, Lex replied, "What?"

In response, I growled. Grabbing his wrists, I felt him wince again as I pinned his hands to the mattress, placing all my weight on his thighs. Close enough to kiss him; I repeated slowly, "Did. You. Let. Him. Fuck. You?"

Giving one last push in protest, Lex answered, "Fuck you, Clark."

Shaking my head, I said, "No. Let's talk about who's been fucking you."

"If you want to know so badly, why don't you suck on my ass and find out."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Shut the fuck up, Clark, and get the hell off of me."

"What's the matter, Lex? This not turn out the way you wanted? I'm not the little boy trying to reclaim my territory or begging for you to stay. That is what you wanted isn't it? Isn't it, Lex?"

"I'm not talking to you like this. Get off of me and we'll talk."

Slowly, I retreated off the bed. Ready to grab him if he made a run for the door, I stood a foot from the bed. I watched as he lowered his legs. I admit I felt a little bad at the look of pain on his face when he stretched out the sore muscles, but my anger wouldn't let me take notice of it at the time. I followed him as he rolled off the far side of the bed and opened his closet. He pulled on a robe, tying it shut. Then, he walked up to me. Face to face, eye-to-eye, he commanded, "Get out."

"Gladly."

I left the penthouse and went back to Smallville. It would be days before a visitor came to remind me of my lover.

 

That went well…not

I stood stiffly as he walked from the room. I'd expected him to be angry. I'd even expected that he might want to imprint me by fucking me. Had that been what happened, I'd have rolled with it, enjoyed the rough sex and reassured him when he felt guilty afterward.

But he was too angry for that to be enough. When he ripped the muscle in my thigh I knew I had to shut it down. Then the bones creaked in my bruised wrists as he repeated the question, I couldn't believe he'd asked me that. Did he really not understand that I wouldn't cheat on him?

It took all my well-learned control to hide my pain as I ordered him to leave. As soon as I heard the penthouse door slam, I dropped to the floor. I sat for several long minutes bathed in sweat as I waited for the pain to subside enough to allow me to crawl to the bathroom.

I turned on the water in the tub and hauled myself up to get drugs. Sinking into the water, I let the heat sooth me. I was far from soothed in my mind.

I dozed as the heavy pain meds kicked in. I woke when a deep voice spoke my name as he pulled me up and out of the cold water. My leg gave out and only his strong hands kept me from falling on my face.

"Who hurt you, Lex?"

"Just get me to bed, I'll be fine by tomorrow."

"I doubt that, your wrists are broken, even you don't heal that quickly."

"Broken? No, nothing's broken."

"That's what you think, look at them. Bruising and sprains don't make you swell that much."

I looked down and he was right, both my wrists were swollen. "Fuck!"

"I'll take you back to Gotham with me until you heal. It was that kid, wasn't it?"

"Just let me sleep, Bruce. I'll be fine in no time."

"We need to get the swelling down so they can be splinted, at least. You can't stay here alone. I'm sure you don't want your father knowing this. The kid left you alone after he hurt you, didn't he."

I threw him an irritated frown, as I hopped beside him to my bed. "He doesn't know he hurt you this much, does he?"

"Just leave Clark out of this. Why are you here anyway?"

"We were supposed to meet in the morning. You told me to come in early if I wanted to and to use the penthouse. Why should I leave him out? He is the one who did this to you, isn't he?"

"Alright, since you aren't going to drop it, yes, he hurt me. I made him jealous."

"He did this because you flirted with some other guy?"

"He thought I fucked him."

"I thought this was the one for you, Lex. Or are you keeping him in the dark?"

"No, I've let him in. I just forgot how young he is. Plus he's got all this stress because of his parents."

"You sound like an abused wife making excuses, Lex, stop it."

"I'm just telling you the truth."

"Well, being jealous doesn't give him the right to manhandle you that way. Did he rape you, too?"

"No, Bruce, Clark would never force me. Will you let me nap, please? Take the guestroom and in the morning if the swelling is down you can take me home with you and play nursemaid to your heart's content."

"We're not through talking, Lex. I won't stand by and watch as you self-destruct over that boy."

"Let me sleep, we'll talk in the morning."

He left me alone and I tried to sleep. But his words kept running through my head. I knew Clark would be devastated if he found out that he'd hurt me. Maybe the best thing to do was to walk away. Question was, could either of us do that?

Finally, I slept, only to wake the next morning crying with the pain. The swelling had gone down, but the bruises were even more spectacular than the night before. Bruce was at my side almost instantly.

"Lex, where are the drugs?"

"In the bathroom."

He walked away but soon returned with the meds. As I swallowed the pills he put on my tongue, he said. "I have the helicopter picking us up in an hour. We'll go straight to my jet and Alfred will meet us with the limo at the other end. When you're ready I'll help you dress."

"Thanks, Bruce."

We didn't talk as he got me dressed and made us coffee. "Lex, it's time for the helicopter. We should probably cover your hands. We don't want the pilot passing on that information to your father."

"I can cover them with my coat."

"That should work. Let's go."

The trip to the airport was short, Bruce let me sleep on the plane, and in the limo. At the manor they fed me and splinted my hands, then he gave me more pain meds and let me sleep some more. I slept around the clock and still woke in pain. That was when Bruce insisted that I see his physician.

It was also when I started to get angry. Clark hadn't called to check on me. I figured that even if he were still pissed at me, his curiosity would have led him to check on me. So, after Bruce's doctor said that the ligaments were torn as well as the bones broken, I cursed all the way into surgery.

Between the tests and the surgery another day passed. No Clark. I decided it was for the best. I conducted my business with either Alfred or Bruce helping me out. I also began to plan my future alone.

I caught Bruce studying me as I went through my days. Of everyone, I know he is the one I can depend on, no matter what. He was also the only one from whom I couldn't hide. He was certainly one of the few I'd trust to wipe my ass.

As time passed and Clark didn't contact me, I became even angrier. I believe it was that combined with the frustration of my condition, which led to the dreams. The first woke me during the night, and I couldn't get back to sleep.

The second brought Bruce to my room to find out why I was screaming. He held on to me the way he had at school when he knew I was upset.

"What was the dream about?"

"Clark. He was hurt and I couldn't help him."

"That boy really has gotten under your skin, hasn't he?"

"Doesn't matter. He hasn't even bothered to check on me. He can make his parents happy and marry the girl next door and forget his experimentation with the worthless Luthor."

"Lex, anyone would be lucky to have you. As for marrying the girl next door – I don't think the girl next door could possibly make him happy in bed after he's shared yours. No one who's ever been in your bed complained about that aspect of their relationship with you."

"Most of them didn't have parents who hated me."

"In-laws aren't supposed to like you. Try and go back to sleep. I'll stay here until you do."

I settled back down and drifted off, safe with Bruce watching over me.

 

Nocturnal Visitations

On the third night after my fight with Lex, I went out to the barn. I needed solitude. The level of tension in my parents' house was just too high. The only upside was that they stopped using hurtful words and a type of civility now governed our interactions.

As the barn door closed behind me, I heard a familiar voice, "Clark Kent."

Turning toward the voice, I watched as Bruce Wayne emerged from the shadows. Walking up to him, I asked, "Did he send you?"

"No. I'm here on my own."

Turning away from him, I glanced over my shoulder as I dismissed him, "Leave me alone."

I started to ascend the stairs leading to the loft when he called out, "You broke both his wrists."

Instantly, I stopped. Slowly turning around, I stared at Bruce as I asked, "Is he okay?"

"No. He's broken, battered and bruised."

Sitting down on the stairs, I stared out into space. Cradling my head in my hands, I felt him cautiously approach me. When he reached the banister, he said, "You didn't know you hurt him that badly."

I shook my head, as I replied, "No, I didn't." Looking up at him, I begged, "Please, believe me. I didn't know."

Bruce tilted his head to the right as he watched me. "Just like he said."

"He said that?"

"In not so many words."

Jumping up, I asked, "Where is he now?"

I saw reluctance in his eyes and I promised, "I won't hurt him. I won't touch him. I just need to see him."

He was silent for several seconds before answering, "He's at my estate in Gotham City. When you get there, you'll meet a man named Alfred. Tell him Thomas and Martha said you could see Lex."

"Thomas and Martha?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Thank you."

I waited for a reply that never came. He just stood there, quiet and foreboding. Leaving the barn, I looked back only for a second, then I sped away.

I arrived in Gotham five minutes later. I easily jumped the gate and avoided the sensors. I evaded a group of security. I reached the house easily enough and scaled the walls to the high windows. I managed to open a first floor window and peek inside the room only to find an elderly man standing in front of me. His attire told me he was a butler. His patient demeanor and knowing eyes told me who he must be.

"Alfred?"

"Yes, Master Kent."

Still half hanging out the window, I explained, "I'm here to see Lex Luthor. Umm... Thomas and Martha said I could."

After I finished speaking, he smiled kindly. Turning to the left, he gestured toward the door as he said, "Of course. Follow me, if you will."

Clumsily climbing through the window, I scrambled after him. He led me through a maze of hallways and corridors. Along the way, I saw portraits lining the walls and expensive bric-a-brac tastefully displayed. So caught up in what I was seeing, I didn't notice when he came to a stop. As a result, I charged right into that old man. I hit him with my full force and, now here's the strange part, he didn't budge. He simply turned around and smiled. A moment later, he opened the door before us.

In the room, Lex slept on a large bed. Immediately numb, I stumbled over to his bedside. I heard Alfred close the door behind me, but I didn't acknowledge it. I couldn't take my eyes off the bandaged wrists, the expression of pain and the sweat running down pale flesh. Tears sprang to my eyes. Shaking my head, I brought my hands up to my eyes. Roughly drawing my hands down my face, I forced myself to gaze upon the destruction I wrought.

Before me was every nightmare I've ever had. My powers run amok. My anger unchecked. Kneeling down beside him, I rested my elbows on the mattress as I clasped my hands in prayer. Quietly, I repeated, "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

I went through several runs of this litany before I heard a tired voice ask, "Clark?"

 

Seeking absolution

I woke to the sound of a voice, "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

The pain meds had worn off, and the pain was back. I couldn't figure out why I was still having so much pain, normally I'd be healing nicely after several days. But then I'd never broken anything before. I decided to verify that it was really Clark and not a dream.

"Clark?"

"Lex, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that I hurt you."

"What are you doing here? How did you find me?'

"Bruce came to see me. He told me I'd hurt you. I had to come to check on you."

"Go home, Clark."

"Please, Lex, don't send me away. I want to take care of you. Make it up to you."

"It's been three days, Clark, and you haven't even called me. You wouldn't be here now if not for Bruce interfering. I think we both know what happened can never be allowed to happen again."

"I didn't mean…"

"Yes, you did. You didn't trust me. You accused me of cheating on you. And then you hurt me for the imagined sin."

"I never would have left you if I'd known that you were seriously hurt."

"That's just your guilt talking, Clark."

I watched as the tears rolled down his cheeks. I wanted to reach out to him, to end his pain, but I couldn't. I shared the blame with him for my condition. I know that. I'd pushed his buttons and he'd reacted.

"Lex, what can I do? I should have believed in you. I know I'm just a hick and you could have anyone. I was hurt and afraid that you'd found someone else. I love you so much, Lex."

"And mad, Clark, don't forget that one. You wanted to hurt me. I saw it in your eyes."

I watched as his eyes widened with the knowledge. I don't think he'd realized how it looked from my point of view.

"That was wrong. I waited for you so long and the whole time I was picturing you with someone else. I kept getting more and more angry. Then you wouldn't answer me. I needed you to tell me that you hadn't…"

"Clark, you have super senses, if I was with someone else you'd be able to tell. The only way I could cheat on you and you not know is if I didn't see you for a week after it happened and I washed three times a day during that week."

His head dipped and I knew he was thinking back to how he'd smelled the faint hint of me on my kidnapper and therefore found me. I waited until he lifted his head, then once more told him to go.

"Go back to Smallville, Clark. Take Lana up on her offer, make your parents happy."

"No! You can't mean that. You love me, I know you do."

"Clark…"

The door opened and Alfred came into the room. "Master Lex, Master Bruce called and wanted me to make sure everything was going alright. I also brought you some broth and your medication."

"Thank you, Alfred."

I struggled to sit up and Clark was instantly on his feet. He lifted me easily and propped me up with pillows around me. He reached for the cup of broth, and Alfred gave it to him.

I allowed Clark to place the straw to my lips and I sipped, chicken broth just the right temperature. Alfred was watching us and I knew every nuance of our behavior would be reported to Bruce when he returned.

When the broth was finished, Alfred handed Clark the meds and a glass of water. I let him deposit the pills on my tongue, then swallowed them and drank plenty of water.

"Master Lex, you should probably get some sleep."

"You're right, Alfred, and Clark should be heading for home. Will you show him out?"

"I want to stay."

"Perhaps, Master Kent could stay in one of the guestrooms?"

"He should go home to his parents."

"I'll leave if you make me, Lex, but I won't go home. I belong with you. I'll find a way to win back your trust."

"Actually, Master Bruce asked that Master Kent stay until he comes home. He wishes to speak with him."

I frowned at Alfred, knowing it would do me no good to argue; Alfred would do exactly as Bruce had told him. The meds were kicking in already and I was beginning to drift off. That was the point when I realized that Bruce must have ordered Alfred to slip me a micky. I hate it when he does shit like that.

 

In The Dark Knight's Power

Cautiously, I watched Lex sleep. There seemed something strange about how quickly his struggles turned to snores. Glancing at Alfred, I found only an enigmatic smile a courteous demeanor. When he nodded toward the hallway, I followed wordlessly.

Out in the hall, Alfred closed Lex's door before turning to me and saying, "Master Bruce is in the library. He would like you to join him."

"Really?"

"Yes, follow me," said Alfred as he walked away.

After a few turned corners, Alfred opened a set of enormous double doors. Once the doors were completely open, I felt the pleasant warmth of a rolling fire coming from a far corner. Glancing at Alfred, I saw him look at the fire and calmly nod. The message clear, I drew near the fire. As I passed a high back chair, I heard a deep voice command, "Sit down. You're blocking my light."

At the same moment, I heard the clickity-clack of double doors closing.

Spinning around, I saw Bruce Wayne sitting in the mahogany antique. Looking around, I found a settee nearby and sat down. I watched Bruce in silence. His eyes never left the fire as he said, "Did you make your peace?"

"No."

"I see."

"I know I did a terrible thing, but I can't help feeling like he's pushing me away on purpose. Like he knew I'd get mad enough for something bad to happen."

"Hmm."

"He says things that he knows will hurt me."

"Like?"

"Well, there's this girl named Lana. He's always telling me to go off with her."

"Did he mention this just now?"

I got the funny feeling he already knew the truth as I answered, "Yes."

"I see."

He drew forward. Placing his elbows on his knees, his eyes shifted from the fire to my face. He pressed his clasped hands against his chin as he said, "Has Lex ever mentioned he had a brother?"

"You mean Julian?"

His right brow rose at my response. Nodding slowly, he continued, "Lex was eleven years old when Julian was born."

"Yes, I know."

"Do you know how Julian died?"

"Lex said he was found in his crib. The baby had stopped breathing."

"That's mostly true," said Bruce as he shifted in his seat until he was facing me. "Lex killed Julian."

I jumped up and yelled, "That's not possible!"

Bruce didn't flinch as he waited for me to sit down. Still angry, I slowly lowered myself onto the settee. Filled with tension, I listened as he explained, "It wasn't on purpose. Lex loved his brother. He loved him so much that he'd hold Julian for hours. A rare thing Lex was - A boy willing to sit still for so long. It was a lovely thing. Except, on the day of Julian's baptism, Lex held Julian too tightly. He held the baby against his chest and the baby couldn't breath. By the time, Lex realized what happened, Julian was already dead. He placed the baby back in the crib and ran to tell his mother."

Numb, I sat there thinking about what Bruce was saying. Finally, after Bruce stopped speaking, I asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you are the first thing I've seen Lex really love since Julian and his mother died."

"I don't understand."

"He doesn't want to get hurt again. He'll do anything, endure anything, to keep from hurting again."

"Still, why tell me?"

"Because you're here."

I stared back at Bruce. I wasn't sure I understood, but I didn't want to ask another question. Standing up, I excused myself for the night. As I passed by him, he whispered, "Alfred will see you to your room."

Nodding, I left the room. The message was clear - Don't see Lex again tonight. Outside the library, Alfred waited patiently. Gesturing for him to go first, I followed him to my room where I waited for morning and wondered about the things I learned.

 

Brooding Bat

I swam up from sleep, disoriented and confused. As I blinked in the low light of the room, I saw Bruce sitting in a chair nearby. He moved forward to offer me a glass of cool water. When my throat was soothed I glare at him.

"Bastard, I need to piss, help me up."

"I'll get the bottle."

"No, I want to get out of this bed."

"Lex, the drugs make you unsteady."

"So what? You can't hold me up now?"

He shook his head while throwing back the covers. Helping me sit, he spoke, "Wait a minute, give yourself a chance to clear your head."

"If you don't get me to the bathroom I'm going to piss my pants."

He stopped trying to argue and lifted me. Holding onto me, he walked me to the bathroom. He didn't hesitate to pull down the boxers and hold my dick as I peed. When I finished, he pulled up my boxers and led me back to the bed.

"Do you want some broth or juice?"

"Don't bother Alfred."

The door opened and there was Alfred with a tray. "Damn, are the two of you psychically linked? I don't want anything else that isn't opened in front of me."

"Master Lex, I give you my word there are no drugs in this."

Since Alfred had never lied to me, I allowed them to give me broth and juice. When Alfred left the room, I turned back to Bruce.

"Did you send Clark home?"

"No, he's in one of the guest rooms. Lex, what are you going to do about this?"

"I told him to go home."

"To Lana?"

"To her, to his parents who hate me, to a normal life."

"Normal? We both know that boy isn't normal, just as you aren't."

"Without me in his life, he can at least appear normal. If he stays with me, he'll be under a microscope. He'll be the subject of headlines and you know what they'll call him. He'll be stalked by photographers."

"I think he can deal with all that."

"I hurt people, Bruce. I've already hurt him."

"You're human, Lex, not perfect. Besides, from here it looks like you're the one in pain."

"I can handle this pain."

"Are you sure? Because I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at him. I think the pain of being without him will make broken wrists look like a mild muscle strain."

"Weren't you the one who was telling me only two days ago that I needed to forget him?"

"Alfred pointed a few things out to me."

"Such as?"

"Doesn't really matter, I trust Alfred's instincts. Look here, Lex, I saw the boy's face when he found out that he hurt you. That's why I went there, so that I could see it for myself. And he arrived here within five minutes of me telling him where you were."

"Bruce…"

"Lex, anyone you love will be protected as if he were you. Even if he isn't with you, I won't blow his cover. I won't even pry. I will however make it my mission in life to seriously hurt him if he ever hurts you again."

"Well, you'll never have to do that because he's going home today and I'm not going to see him anymore."

"You can't get rid of me that easily, Lex."

I groaned and rolled to my side away from them.

"Bruce, get him out of here. Go home, Clark."

"No. I'm responsible for this; I should be the one caring for you."

"Please, Bruce."

"Clark, please do as he asks."

"He's mine, and I'm his. Don't you understand that?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I turned just as Bruce manhandled Clark toward the door. Was I just a possession, then? His sex toy? Was there some alien drive that I'd kicked awake by having sex with him?

I wished I could discuss all this with Bruce. Although knowing all the weird things that went on in his life and with the Alfred's spook factor thrown in he might have figured out most of it.

Alfred entered the room. "Master Lex, would you like me to draw you a bath?"

"Is Clark gone?"

"I believe Master Clark is on the phone with his parents."

"Where is Bruce?"

"He's conversing with your father. It appears that Mr. Luthor is concerned that he cannot locate you."

Bruce would know how to handle Lionel. I briefly wondered what Clark was saying to his parents. I looked at Alfred waiting so patiently. I had been sweating during the night, so the idea of a bath and having clean sheets when it was finished was most appealing.

"Yes, Alfred, I would like to bathe. Thank you."

"I'll draw your bath."

Getting clean would help me get ready to start my day. It was lunchtime before I realized that I was feeling no pain.

 

There Comes a Time to Move On

It was a little after noon when I heard the light tapping on the door. Sitting up, I called out, "Come in."

Immediately, Alfred opened the door. Pausing only long enough to pick up a tray from the table outside the door, Alfred entered my room. I'd only been there a couple of days, but the room already felt like mine. There were clothes in my size hanging in the closet, folded in the drawers. A phone with its own phone line sat on the nearby desk - the same desk where Alfred placed my lunch.

When I didn't quickly move to the desk, Alfred turned toward me and asked, "Are you not hungry, Master Kent?"

Shaking my head, I replied, "I'm hungry. I just don't feel like eating."

His eyes softened and sadness tensed about his thinly pressed lips. Looking up at him, I asked, "Has he asked for me at all?"

Looking down, Alfred answered, "No, Master Kent. He has not."

Clasping my hands in front of me, I thought aloud, "What am I going to do?"

Then, Alfred did something I'd never seen him do before - he sat down. He pulled out the desk chair and slowly lowered himself down onto it. He seemed older as his shoulders sagged down and his hands came to rest on his knees. He waited until my eyes met his before he said, "Master Kent, I have spent many years in the employ of very wealthy men. It has been my experience that men such as Master Luthor expect things to conclude in their favor simply because they always have. Much is offered to them. Very little is denied."

"What are you trying to say, Alfred?" I asked.

"Master Luthor can have most anything he wants. Perhaps it is time you showed him something he cannot have."

With his final words, Alfred stood up. He lightly patted me on the shoulder before leaving the room. After the door closed, I stood up and sat down in the chair Alfred just vacated. Turning toward the meatloaf sandwich brought for lunch, I considered my next move as I picked up the sandwich and began to eat.

An hour later, I walked into Lex's room. I found a familiar scene - Lex in bed. His color looked better and his expression was peaceful, but I didn't allow that to deter me from my mission. Closing the door behind me, I walked up to the bed and announced, "Lex, I'm leaving today. I'm going back to Smallville.

He tried to interrupt me, but I put my hand up to silence him. Quickly, I said, "You've said a lot. Now, it's time that you listened a little."

His eyes darkened, but he nodded. Sitting down on his bed, I said, "I want you to know a few things before I leave, Lex. First, I want you realize I'm gay. I'm not experimenting and it's not a phase. That means that with you or without you, Lana isn't in my future. Second, I really am sorry for everything that I did and I hope someday you can forgive me. Lastly, I love you and I think a part of me always will."

As I finished speaking, I stood up. Walking to the door, I looked back as I opened it. Lex's face was unreadable as I left the room.

"If you ever want to see me again, Lex, you know where to find me."

 

I'll be damned

"I think a part of me always will. If you ever want to see me again, Lex, you know where to find me."

His parting shots as he walked from the room. I rose from the bed and looked out the window as he appeared in the drive. As if he sensed me there he looked up. He raised his hand in a wave and then shot out of sight.

I felt, rather than heard the presence behind me. Then he spoke. "For what it's worth, Lex, I think he's your shot at the brass ring. I'm sure he loves you."

"He's a child."

"He's many things, but child isn't one of them. He never got to be a child, anymore than you or I did."

I turned too quickly and almost fell, Bruce was there to catch me. I studied his eyes as he made sure I was steady on my feet.

"What do you know?"

"I have state of the art surveillance on this estate. I've watched the tapes of how he entered the first time. I'm sure his departure just now will show similar shots. Anyone who has the speed and strength he has would have been prevented a childhood. Doing normal childhood things would result in injury and property damage."

"The world can't be allowed to know that. You know what would happen to him, Bruce. I want the tapes."

"I've destroyed the arrival tapes, Alfred is collecting the ones from a few minutes ago. I told you he is safe with me."

"I know. I think my wrists are healed, I want to see the doctor today."

"You're deflecting."

"Yes, I am. But it's the truth nevertheless. Don't push me, Bruce. He'll be better off without me."

"That isn't true." He watched me silently for a moment, then said. "I'll have Alfred call the doctor and bring around the car."

My wrists had healed and the casts were removed. It was such a relief to shower and piss unassisted. I left Gotham the next day for Metropolis. I had my usual sparing match with my father, caught up on work and tried to forget green eyes that looked at me with adoration as I took him places he'd never gone before.

The weeks passed and I avoided his memory as much as possible. The calls I exchanged with Lana concerning the Talon always had a twist to them. She'd drop falsely casual comments into the conversation – Clark was doing this or she and Clark did so and so. I stopped calling and sent emails instead.

I thought I was past wanting him until the day I was looking for my favorite pair of comfortable shoes and found the bag from that day. The bag with the coat and pants I'd bought for him. I sat on the floor, held them to my face breathing in the scent of new leather and pictured him in them.

Thing is, I could barely remember the face of the clerk who had assisted me that day. But I could still remember the face of anger as Clark raged at me. The insane idiot, who resides in my subconscious most of the time, asked quietly if another broken bone would be worth it to have him show up there.

I threw the coat from me and walked quickly out of the closet and to the phone. There was one sure way to find out if he had learned his lesson and if he meant it when he said he loved me.

I stepped from the limo that night and smiled at the cameras before stepping aside and allowing my 'date' to exit the vehicle. The escort service had done a great job. He was tall, broad shouldered, had black wavy hair, but the eyes were warm brown.

I stopped on the carpet and allowed a reporter that normally I avoided to ask questions.

"Mr. Luthor, you haven't attended one of these charity events in some time. Where have you been hiding yourself?"

"Do you think it's easy being rich? It's lots of hard work. But I needed a break and this is such a worthy cause. I have my check written."

"We're sure that you will be generous as always."

I could see that she was dying to ask who the man beside me was but she restrained herself.

"I do like to support the causes I believe in. I'll also be announcing later in the week a possible move to the coast to look after LuthorCorp interests there."

"Really? Why the change?"

"We feel that a short term family presence is needed. And a change of scene would be good for me. Everyone needs that now and again."

"Well, there you have it folks. Lex Luthor following in both his parents' footsteps."

The camera cut away and she smiled at me, "So who is this hunk with you tonight?"

"Now, Susan, you know I don't kiss and tell. I'll see you later."

I turned and walked toward the door with the escort in tow. I caught Clark out of the corner of my eye in the crowd. He'd made good time as usual. He stood still and I turned to smile at him. A hesitant smile touched his lips in return and he looked pointedly at the clone. I mouthed one word, "Penthouse." He nodded and then slipped back into the crowd. I had my answer.

Hi, Stranger

I waved at Lex before I ran away. I guess my youthful optimism expected him to come after me quickly - No more than a few days; but that didn't happen. Days became a week and soon more weeks came to join the first. Still, there was no word.

Somewhere around week two, I gave up. The next time my mother made a snide comment about Lex, I announced that I wasn't seeing him anymore. She flashed the first smile I'd seen in a long time. All I could do was shake my head as I headed for my bedroom.

Y'know, it's amazing. Once you come to terms with your own sexuality, how easily you see it in others. Suddenly, Brandon from my second period economics class seemed a lot more interesting. We met one day under the bleachers. Scared and hoping to not get caught, Brandon showed me what it felt like to have sex with someone other than Lex. It didn't feel as good and no penetration took place, but walking away from Lex was the choice I made. I learned to live with it.

Then, one night, I was watching television when I saw Lex come on the screen. I tensed when I saw his escort and the clever grin he flashed at the camera. I knew that smile. It was an invitation. I jumped up and sped away to Metropolis. I arrived as he played with the press about the man on his arm. He scanned the crowd and our eyes locked.

He smiled. I smiled back. I shot a look at his date and laughter filled Lex's eyes. I knew the game was on for sure when he mouthed "Penthouse" before turning away. I quickly nodded and I know he caught it out of the corner of his eye before I left, heading for the penthouse.

Hours later, Lex arrived at the penthouse. He turned on the lights while slipping out of his jacket. His eyes quickly drew to where I stood across the room. Raising a hand, I said, "Hey."

"Hey," he replied.

I looked him up and down as I noted, "You're looking good. No permanent effects, right?"

He tossed his coat onto the sofa then proceeded to turn a couple times. He lifted his hands over his head and twisted his wrists a little. "Everything seems to be in working order."

"Good. I'm glad to hear it."

"Clark?"

"Yeah?"

There was silence for a while. We just started walking and before we knew it we were standing in front of each other. A breath away but not touching, we stared at each other for what seemed like forever until he leaned toward me. We kissed softly, almost chastely. Pulling away, I looked down at him and asked, "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

Nodding, he answered, "Truth is...I forgave you that first night."

Cupping his cheek, I kissed him again. Wrapping my arms around him, I sighed when I felt his hands grasp onto my back and shoulders. Breaking our embrace, we pressed our foreheads against each other as our hands traveled. Breathing deeply, I closed my eyes as I ran my right hand over his scalp. Engrossed in the subtleties of his flesh, I almost missed him saying, "Clark, I-"

Quickly, I darted my left hand up. Pressing my fingertips against his lips, I silenced him. Looking in his eyes, I saw so much emotion as I shushed at him. Keeping a lock on his eyes, I reached down and grabbed his hand. Tugging on him, I led Lex into his bedroom.

Gently, I laid him down on the bed. Spreading out beside him, I paused only for a second before kissing him again.

 

Starting Over?

I spent the evening smiling in the right places, clapping when it was called for. We circulated, and I was asked who my handsome date was, I gave them a first name and nothing more. He was charming to the people around us but managed to say absolutely nothing.

It was a pleasant enough evening and I managed to avoid worrying about Clark. I was hopeful that we could have a decent conversation when I went home. I'd discounted Lana's email saying Clark was seeing some guy at school as either bullshit or experimentation the moment I saw him appear in the crowd.

When the evening drew to an end, I had the driver take me home first, then handed Steve a generous tip and told the driver to drop him wherever he wanted to go. The lights were off in the penthouse, but I felt his presence.

We didn't really say much and when he led me to the bedroom, I was happy to go. I'd missed the closeness we'd developed before that night. Of all the people I'd tried to have relationships with, Clark was the only one who I'd truly gotten to know, the only one who got through my defenses.

He placed me on the bed as if I'd break, then joined me. The first kiss was tentative, soft. His hand sliding over my head again, then cupping the back of my skull. He pulled back a little and grinned at me.

"How was the dinner?"

"Lukewarm, bland and it went on much too long. Did you eat?"

"I had dinner at home, farmer's hours remember?"

"Do they know where you are?"

"No. You looked so handsome tonight. Was that Rick with you?"

"He was a paid escort named Steve."

"Did he take care of you on the way home?"

"If you're asking if I got laid, the answer is no. I haven't been with anyone since the last time we were together. But then you knew that I didn't do anything with him."

He had a strange look on his face and I knew then that Lana had been at least partly right. I didn't figure that a high school boy could have made it better for him than I could. I couldn't be angry; he was young, healthy, horny. Experimentation was normal for a young man.

Still, I felt a stab of pain. Before it registered on my face, I pulled him to me and kissed him again. Then I gave him a sassy grin, "Want to show me a good time?"

"Lex, I missed you."

"Missed you, too, Clark."

I pulled him in for another kiss and soon he was pulling at my clothes. I pushed his hands away and undid the studs on the dress shirt. As soon as I pulled it open, he was sucking on my right nipple while pinching the other. I arched against him as he tugged with his teeth.

"God!" I tangled my fists in his hair holding him in place as I threw one leg up over his hip.

His mouth moved up, leaving a trail of marks, sucking a large one where my neck and shoulder meet. Then lighter nips along my jaw until he covered my mouth again. I rocked hard against him, pressing our cocks together.

Our tongues danced together as we humped each other. I wrenched back from him, "Clark, we need to get naked."

That was all it took. He was up and naked before I got my pants opened. Then his impatient hands pushed mine aside and my pants sailed into the air behind him, one half over his left shoulder the other over his right.

He covered my body and rutted against me. I moaned as our cocks rubbed together. Damn, I'd missed this. We kissed and rocked, frantic to reach climax. So I was surprised when he pulled back.

"Clark?"

His eyes were bright, even now he shows himself to me through his eyes. There was guilt, mixed with the need to confess. I mimicked his gesture of earlier in the evening and pressed my fingers to his lips.

"I know, Clark. It's okay, we'll talk about it someday but not now."

He kissed me, hard, then he whispered, "Will you let me be inside you tonight?"

"Clark, you can do that whenever you want."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"I don't think you'll ever hurt me again, Clark. If I did, I wouldn't be here with you now."

I turned from him to get the lube. He reached past me and took it from the drawer. He snuggled against my back as he flipped the cap. His lips pressed against my ear, "I love you so much."

"I know. I love you, too."

I pulled back; I closed my eyes, listening as he slicked himself. I bent my knees, pulling them toward my chest. I held my breath as he pressed the head of his cock against me, probing for my opening.

I felt the trembling of his body as he pressed forward; I held my breath as the head breached me. Reaching back, I cupped his ass to encourage him. He moaned and surged into me. I gasped at the suddenness of being filled so completely.

"Lex?"

"I'm fine."

His lips caressed the side of my throat, as he pulled out part way and then pushed back in. One of his big hands slipped under my thigh and lifted it as he pushed in deeper. Holding me easily, he pumped into me. My body rocked as he strained toward his orgasm.

I was rock hard and leaking, but I didn't touch my dick. Once I come, I'm over-sensitive so I prefer to wait until my lover comes when I'm getting fucked. His movements were getting jerky; the kisses to my throat sloppy and wet, his hand gripped me so hard I could feel the bruises starting to bloom on my skin.

When his teeth latched onto my throat, I knew he was almost there. A couple of hard thrusts later he slammed in and I felt his come flood me. "Lex!"

Then I reached for my cock, stroking it. His hand slipped down my thigh to cup my balls and squeeze them gently as I brought myself off. As my come began to flow, he covered the head and caught a dollop.

I turned my head enough to watch as he licked his hand clean. "I love the way you taste, Lex."

I smiled as I panted in the aftermath. His arms wrapped around me and he rolled onto his back taking me with him. I waited for my body to calm, very aware of his cock still buried inside me.

"Lex, can I stay all night?"

"I guess you'll have to, because I'm not planning on moving before morning."

"I like having a Lex blanket."

"Let your blanket sleep, will you." I drifted off to sleep as his hands traveled slowly along my body.

 

Well, Good Morning

I'd been quietly resting for hours when I felt him squirm. Looking down, I watched as he slowly raised his head and yawned. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes like a little boy would. All I could do was smile.

There I was. Right where I should be. Resting in a huge bed. Running my fingers up and down Lex's back.

It was wonderful.

Now, Lex was awake, I could ask the question that haunted me since the night before. Sitting up, I inquired, "Lex, how did you know I'd be watching TV last night?"

He cocked his head to the right and then he smiled. With a laugh in his voice, he replied, "Because Angel was on."

"What?"

"Clark, you always watch Angel. Even if it's a repeat. When we were at the estate or at the penthouse or somewhere else, if Angel was on, then everything else stopped for an hour. I noticed that they have that highlight of the news during the commercial break. I knew they'd showcase an event of that magnitude and the rest is history."

"I bet you think you're pretty smart."

"Well, I have taken I.Q. tests in the past and they say I'm a genius."

Pushing Lex hard enough to send him slumping over onto the mattress, I said, "Right. A genius."

Taking my opportunity, I pounced on him. I rained kisses on his face, neck and shoulders. As I worked my way down his chest, he asked, "So, what are you going to tell your new boyfriend?

Pushing up on my elbows, I looked up at Lex and asked, "What new boyfriend?"

"The guy Lana told me about."

Pushing up on my knees, I said, "Lana knew. Damn, that means the whole school knows. Great."

Looking down, I saw the questions in Lex's eyes. Sighing loudly, I shifted until I was sitting against the headboard. Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth, but Lex beat me to the first word.

"Just answer me this - Did your parents like him more than they liked me?"

Shaking my head, I replied, "My parents didn't know or I didn't think they knew. Of course, I didn't think Lana knew. Anyways, he wasn't my boyfriend. I don't know where you got that from."

I saw the doubt in Lex's eyes. Curling my left index finger, I motioned for him to come over. Slowly, he worked his way over until he was pressing his back against the headboard, too. Looking over at him, I said, "Look, Lex. I've spent the last month, month and a half, trying to get on with my life. I didn't like it and it is was no fun, but I did it."

"Do you regret it?"

"I regret our time apart. I regret everything that led up to it, but I don't regret that eventually I realized I had to move on and did just that."

"You looked like you felt guilty last night."

"I felt guilty last night. Sometime this morning, I realized I don't have any reason to feel guilty."

Nodding, Lex looked away from me as he asked, "So, how have you been?"

"Good. I had a lot of catch-up to do at school from all that time I missed, but I caught up okay. Of course, now I'm missing another day of school, so I'm going to have to play catch up again."

"And your parents?"

"What can I say? My mother has worn a permanent smile on her face since the day I told her we broke up. Which reminds me that she's probably realized by now that I didn't sleep in my bed last night."

"And since only I bring out this rebellious behavior, she's figured out that we're together again."

"I'm thinking that you're probably right."

Wrapping his arm around me, Lex pulled me close and asked, "So, where do we go from here?"

Cupping his cheek, I answered, "Well, I go back to Smallville and I graduate from high school."

Softly, I rubbed my thumb over his cheek as I continued, "I want you to come with me. I want us to try and have a normal life. Y'know, where I'm not throwing my future away and you're not whisking me away to unknown places."

Frowning, he asked, "You want a normal relationship? What, with dating? Movies? Midnight walks under the moon? What?"

"Well, something along those lines, yeah, though I could do without the dating. We're kind of past dating, don't you think?"

"I guess."

Suddenly, I kissed him. It was short, but strong and left him wide-eyed. Smiling, I asked, "So, wanna be my boyfriend?"

He chewed on his bottom lip for a while before saying, "I'm not very good at being normal. I haven't had very much experience at it."

Nodding, I agreed, "Neither have I, but maybe we can figure it out."

He searched my face for a second, then he smiled and said, "Maybe, we can.

 

Normal? Us?

He wants normal? Can a billionaire mutant and an alien farmboy ever know normal? Especially with Lionel and the Kents working to separate us.

His mouth had resumed its trip down my body and I gave up thinking as he deep throated my morning hard-on. We spent the next hour making love. Then over a late breakfast my mind kicked back into gear.

I freely admit that he will always be able to distract me with sex. But I also have to say that afterward in the quiet time, when higher brain function returns, I often have epiphanies.

I made a mental list of the things I'd need to do in order to spend more time in Smallville. I ignored the pout that I received when I failed to respond to a comment about the gossip that was being reported about me on the morning show.

"Lex, will you pay attention. They're calling him your boy toy."

"That'll make my father happy. He'll think I've stopped seeing you."

"But he's bound to find out that isn't true."

"Yes, of course, Clark. Right now though, I'm more concerned with how I attempt to give you this normal that you want. Also, are you sure Lana's spread the fact that you're gay to the school? Because if she has we can do things more openly."

"You aren't giving me normal, we're going to try and find it together, Lex." I grinned at the exasperation in his voice. "If Lana knows then you can be sure that Chloe knows, so if it isn't all over the school it soon will be."

"Then let me suggest a full frontal assault."

"What does that mean?"

"We tell your parents that I know the truth."

"What?"

"Clark, I'm perfectly willing to play my father's son."

"Lex, what are you saying?"

"It might take some of the heat off if they think I'm blackmailing you."

"NO! I won't let you take on that lie just to get them focused on you more than they are on me. I don't want then thinking that they are right about you. I'm not a little boy or your victim. But telling them you know might be a good strategy. If they find out that you've known all these months and haven't used it against me even when I hurt you…"

"You told them about that?"

"No, but I will, if we tell them that you know. It will impress on them that you mean to keep my secret."

"Clark, I don't think they need to know about that."

I was amazed at the shame I suddenly felt. Shame that I'd done such an immature thing to begin with. Shame that I'd felt the need to test him, and shame that as twisted as I am, I knew it would probably happen again.

"If we tell them we should tell them everything, Lex. Put it all on the table. Sooner or later they will realize that we aren't just fucking, that we love each other."

"I don't know if they'll ever believe that I'm capable of loving you."

"They'll believe it when we're still together twenty years from now."

"Twenty years? Are you sure that they'll figure it out by then?"

"Aughhh!"

I laughed as he launched himself at me. As he carried me back toward the bedroom I couldn't resist smacking his ass as I dangled head down just above it. We drew it out longer that time.

As I balanced against his thighs and pumped into him I watched his eyes. When they rolled back into his head I let go inside him and sighed as he followed me immediately spraying his come onto my body.

After a short nap we made our plans for the conversation with his parents and our first official 'date' in Smallville.

 

Mother Knows Best

"Clark Joseph Kent, where have you been?" rang my Mother's faceless voice from a dark corner of the living room.

Sighing, I shrugged my jacket off as I answered, "With Lex."

Her gasp told me everything. I kept walking toward the staircase until her hand on my arm stopped me. Turning back to her, I winced at the hurt, pain and shock evident in her expression. Slowly, her grip grew tighter as she stammered, "I thought that was over. You said it was over."

I tried to explain. "I couldn't stay away. I love him."

I have super powers. Still, I didn't see my mother's hand as it slapped me across the face. The hand that hit me was instantly against her mouth. She'd never hit me before and we were both shocked.

Shaking my head, I backed away from her. As I stumbled up the stairs, I could feel where she hit me. It tingled, but didn't hurt. Bullets don't hurt me. She certainly wasn't going to hurt me - At least, not physically anyway.

The next morning, I prepared for school, avoiding her as best I could. I walked about in a daze. Chloe asked if something was wrong, but I shrugged her off. Pete tried to crack a few jokes, but all he got from me was a weak smile. I was glad when the last bell rang. I hurried to the front steps only to stop dead in my tracks.

Parked in front of the school was my mother. She looked determined as she gestured for me to get in the truck. I made my way over to the passenger side and climbed into the cab. Wordlessly, she started up the engine. Several country lanes passed before she said, "I have a friend in Gotham City. I called her last night. She agreed to let you stay with her."

"What?" I asked. "You can't send me away."

Never taking her eyes off the road, she replied, "Yes, I can and I am. This whole situation is out of control."

"You mean because I'm gay."

Taking her eyes off the road, she looked directly at me as she growled, "Don't say that. You're too young to know something like that."

Turning back to the road, she continued, "No. You're too young. You are not gay yet. You just need to get away from the bad influences here."

Just then, we pulled onto the lane running up to our house. As the house drew near, I said, "You mean Lex."

"Yes!" She cried as she slammed on the brakes.

The momentum pushed us forward and then slammed us back. I didn't wait. I jumped from the car. Walking away from her, I called back, "I'm not a little boy anymore. I know what I am."

A week went by. I saw Lex more than once, but also managed to keep to my school schedule. I told Lex about everything my mom said. Lex made me memorize his personal cell phone number. He said in case I really was sent away, I'd know how to contact him.

At my request, he stayed away from the house. I didn't want to cause ripples if I didn't have to. It gave me hope as each day passed without suitcases or bus tickets to Gotham. I thought maybe my Mother got over her initial shock of having Lex back in my life.

In the mornings, she was quiet. After school, she couldn't be found. Late at night, I'd hear her enter my room and stand in front of my bed. I could smell her tears as they fell down her cheeks.

Finally, just when the pressure became unbearable, I awoke to a smiling face. As I entered the kitchen, she flashed a big smile. She shocked me as she placed a plate of food on the table and patted the seat like she did before I came out.

Breakfast went well. She even sat down and asked about how I was doing in school. By the time I finished my pancakes, I was smiling, thinking she decided to try and put the bad feeling behind us.

Glancing down at my watch, I realized I was almost late to school. Quickly, she jumped up and asked, "Want a ride to school?"

"I can probably get there faster on my own steam."

Nodding, she agreed, "That's true, but we haven't talked like this in so long. I'm afraid if we stop, we won't start again. I guess I just want this moment to last a little longer."

I felt the same way, so I said, "Sure. Let's go."

Smiling, she snatched up her keys. Wrapping her arm around mine, we left the house. Quickly, we climbed into the truck. As I fumbled with my seat belt (It's the law, people.), she reached into the glove compartment.

Suddenly, I felt weak. My strength drained away. My veins popped out, pulsing painfully against my skin. Rolling my head to the left, I barely whispered, "Why?"

As I cringed, she ran her hand through my hair as she cooed, "There, there. I know it hurts, but it's necessary. I'm going to get you away from Lex if it's the last thing I do."

Slumping in my seat, I barely registered the hum of the engine as she started up the truck. Rolling my head down, I stared at the eerie green glow coming from the glove compartment as I thought, "I guess it's your turn to save me this time, Lex."

Beside me, my mother mumbled under her breath, "I told you. Not my boy. Not my boy."

Helpless, I whimpered at her words. Immediately, I felt her hand pat my thigh as she said, "Everything will be just fine. You'll see, mother knows best."

 

When will I learn?

On the way back to Smallville (he decided to take the slow route with me to prolong our time together) he changed his mind about us talking to his folks. Said he wanted to give them some more time to adjust. Frankly, I knew he was protecting me from their wrath. He tends to forget just how much hate, envy and anger I'd survived before I met him. But it's such a wonderful feeling to have someone love me that way that I indulge him even to this day.

Since I had to make certain changes to be able to spend more time in Smallville again, we only saw each other a couple of times during the next week. We still hadn't done the public date thing, as he wanted to wait until he was sure that Lana had gossiped. Knowing the additional hassles he'd be subject to once we were a known couple, I readily agreed.

We'd made plans for Friday night. I'd made it a point to get away from the office and back to the mansion early enough to shower and change. The cook had prepared his favorites and I'd planned a romantic dinner with him. When he was late getting there, I became concerned.

As I dialed his cell phone, I tapped my foot impatiently. When I got the out of area recording my worry kicked into high gear. He didn't want me to visit the farm but he hadn't asked me not to call.

The phone rang three times and then the recorder kicked on. I didn't bother leaving a message. The next call was to Gabe.

"Hello."

"Gabe, its Lex. May I speak to Chloe?"

"Is something wrong?"

"I hope not. Clark was supposed to come over and he hasn't. I wondered if she knew how he was."

"Hold on, Lex, I'll get her."

I'd begun pacing as I waited for her to get on the phone. She sounded a little breathless as she came on line.

"Lex, Clark wasn't in school today. I stopped by the farm after school and his dad was out in the fields but no one else was around. I can't imagine that he wouldn't let you know if he had to go somewhere with his mom."

"Has he said anything in the last couple of days that might hint where they went?"

"Well he did say his mother was threatening to send him to stay with her friend in Gotham."

"Chloe, how much do you know about what's going on here? I need to know everything you know."

"Lana told me that you were…" I could feel her blush through the phone. "If he wants to be with you then that's his own business. I really can't tell you much more. He didn't tell me the woman's name or anything like that."

"If you think of anything, call me." I gave her my cell number and disconnected the call. The next call was to Bruce.

"Wayne Manor."

"Alfred, I need to talk to Bruce."

"Of course, Master Lex."

Bruce's calm voice came on the line. "Lex, what's wrong? Alfred said you're upset."

"Clark was supposed to be here for dinner and he didn't show up. I just found out that his mother has been threatening to send him to a friend there."

"Lex, he's a big boy. I'm sure he'll call you as soon as he can if that's the case."

"Bruce, you don't understand and I can't discuss this with you on the phone. I'll be there as soon as possible, but in the meantime will you try and find out whom Martha Kent knows in Gotham."

"Alright, Lex. Try to stay calm. How are you getting here?"

"I sent a message for the helicopter, driving would take too long."

"Lex, what was her maiden name?"

"Clark."

"Ah, I might have guessed. I'll see you soon and maybe I'll have some information for you."

"I hope so. He's everything to me, Bruce."

"So Alfred tells me. Don't worry, we'll find him."

We disconnected and I went to change into something more appropriate for a trip to Gotham. I'd need to look my most imposing.

As I changed, I remembered his face as I'd last seen him, sated, eyelids drooping, body covered with his come, his ass still flexing around my softening cock. Thank god I didn't have to wonder if he'd just walked out on me.

Go to Part 4

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