Defeated, Lex fell to his knees before Superman and awaited the final blow. Superman wouldn't kill him, but whatever happened next would be fatal all the same.
A hand entered his field of vision, but the fingers were unclenched, the offer self-evident.
"I don't deserve that," Lex said quietly. He knew what he was.
"No," was Superman's biting reply. "You don't."
A brief pause and Lex watched for the hand to curl into a fist.
"But," and Lex looked up startled to see harsh lines softened, to see green eyes full of sad affection, to see Clark, "you need it."
AN: Have I mentioned lately that I love Buffy? *grins*