Difference

DC or Marvel: Clark Luthor, Lex Luthor and all other characters

I was saddened by how little Clark Luthor and Earth-2 are explored when they are so interesting! Very Nature-Nurture interesting! I wanted to look at what must have happened to a sweet little boy from Krypton in Lionel's care and what could have been.

The tires made that distinct sound of rubber rolling fast over pavement mixed with wind gliding over the spotless car. The tinted windows let in just enough light without letting it venture into too much light for the irritating position of the afternoon sun. Lex watched lazily as the world of tall buildings drifted by in a haze of muted color and the trash littering the streets was hardly visible or distinguishable. One hand rubbed circles into the tight stretched leather of the built in armrest on the side of the limo while his other carded slowly through the dark hair of the head resting on his leg.

Clark was not sleeping, he knew that from the way he was breathing. There was relaxation on the surface, but under the layers was the tight coil of dread they both always felt wind up like a clock the closer they came to Luthor Corp. The glass and metal monster was a subject of dread for everyone, including the Luthor heirs; contrary to everything Lane and Queen said. The public saw the faces they wanted them to, not the limo ride before they stepped into the flashes of a camera, not the siblings alone and clinging to each other for what little sanity there was left.

No one knew the Luthor children like the Luthor children, not even Lionel. They were a breed all their own with a bond soldiers in the trenches probably had; after all, they were just trying to keep each other alive for another day. No one else would look out for them so there was nothing else they could do. Their father tried to pit them against each other every second of every day, and at times it worked, or it had when they were younger and did not understand how vital they were to each other. Now they just played the games, public games of chess with living pieces, played at infighting that none of them felt because they were bonded too much to let that go. The barbs did not hurt because they were lies.

Clark's position on the seat was obvious enough of his distress; his long legs were curled up awkwardly on the seat that was a little too narrow for his large frame to fit that way, but the effort to curl into a ball was there. Clark might have hated this trip more than Lex or Tess. It was worse for him, but in a way, knowing how much worse it was for Clark made it just as bad for them since they could do nothing but watch.

The two blood Luthor's dealt with that in their own ways.

Tess got sadistic, not that Lex hadn't, but hers was different. Lex put on masks and took them off, but she tried to become all her masks. Lex put his feelings into neatly labeled boxes to keep them controlled while the environment spun out of control; Tess focused on trying to control her environment rather than control herself to fit the environment. They could both control themselves but she spun out more often than he did because he knew he could not control the world, only his responses. Tess worked hard trying to convince herself that this was their normal. She got ruthless and embraced things Lex could not, such as Kal.

Lex loved Clark with all his heart. He hated Kal just as much. And yes, there was a difference between the two.

Other people could not see it but Lex had always been able to see it the moment it happened, the moment Clark faded into the background to make room for the sickening and dominant Kal to step in. Clark always went away the moment their father entered a room. Lex watch the shift in his eyes each morning for years, watched his brother slip and Kal emerge with a little blink and shift in posture. With only a glance, Lex could always tell which one of them he was dealing with.

Somehow he doubted that their father could, though he was sure the old man knew there was a different part of Clark Luthor that he never saw.

Of late, Clark surfaced less and less. Lex hated Kal for that. He hated his father too, more, because his father created Kal with his endless stunts to keep a hold over something humans had no business touching. Clark was a gift, Tess always said, and he was, but not the way they understood. Clark was an enigma, innocence in a dark world. The fact that he held onto goodness was what made him a gift. Kal was what came when innocence was lost to Red K, blue, silver, green, and gold Kryptonite torture.

Kal was what emerged when Clark couldn't endure and stay sane. Kal was what came of putting a Red K ring on Clark's hand for months until he was so lost he did not know himself. It was green or sometimes blue torture that left his body shaken and weak. It was exposing him to silver and locking him up with his delusions for days just to see what would happen; worse, throwing in people their father wanted dead just to see how far Clark's sanity had gone. When Clark came out the other side of that eventually it was not enough to wash the blood off his hands. Kal bloomed under that and Lionel's creation took up a place inside that gentle, kind mind, probably because anything else would have made Clark utterly, hopelessly insane.

Clark needed Kal to stay alive. That did not mean Lex could ever like it.

He could never hate Clark for Kal, he understood completely, always would. He could not have grown up the way he had, with a kid younger than he was, crawling into his bed at night when the rest of the house was asleep, shaking or crying after some scientist had tested a child beyond what should have been done to an adult. The scientists usually vanished forever once they made a mistake or learned too much for Lionel, but new ones always came along. Sometimes, even as old as he was now, grown up by most standards, Clark still sneaked into his room. He might not cry anymore but the silence and blank eyes were telling enough. All Lex could do was run his fingers through that thick hair over and over again, willing it to have the power to make everything go away.

It was like a blow to the chest when the limo lurched to a stop. They all hated that stop, the one that signaled the ride ending and the jaws of the outside world suddenly much closer. If Lex listened hard enough he could hear the gnashing of teeth and the guttural growls of the hell waiting beyond the door. He could not help shivering, cringing when the driver buzzed the intercom to blandly tell them they had arrived.

Clark eased into a sitting position, uncurling with a vulnerable, hopeless look on his face.

Lex reach for the door but was stopped by a hand on his, "Lex," the voice was tentative, wavering, "I love you. I'm glad I've had you for a brother all these years. You and Tess get me through. I don't know if you really understand how much you mean to me."

Looking into those eyes was shattering and the lump of rock suddenly at home in his throat made it impossible to do anything but nod and squeeze those thick fingers, but he had to say something, "You... deserve so much better. I wish..."

Clark pulled him into a tender hug, just holding on, and Lex could do nothing but cling to those strong shoulders. And what was this confession about? Those words almost sounded like goodbye. What exactly did Clark know that he did not? If only he had enough courage to ask! If only he was strong enough to find out why Clark looked like he was walking to a funeral or his own execution, but he was not that kind of strong. Just like he never asked what the scientists did behind huge metal doors that locked like a bank vault, instead he found out for himself when one of them got sloppy a left the paperwork on the table.

"I don't know what to do." Lex's words surprised him, unsure if he thought before he said them, or even just how far that admission went.

"I know. It's ok. It's not your fault, it never has been. You do everything you can, and that's more than enough." The words were so soft, so full of earnest comfort.

Lex choked and he refused to admit it had been on a sob, "Clark."

Clark pulled away, hardness slithering over his posture even though Kal had not risen forth yet, "We have to go now. He'll be waiting."

Lex knew that too, so he pulled on a blank face and eased out the car door. As expected, he was already seeing stars from the camera flashes but he stepped onto the curb like he could actually see, shoving his hands into his pants pockets, staring down those dancing lights. Clark eased out behind him, a cold steel smile already on his lips, eyes darker and fully Kal's. Kal looked over the small crowd like a wolf taking inventory of a sheep herd, a very Lionel sort of look, and that almost made Lex shiver and hurry to distance himself. Rather than flee, Lex turned his lips up in a slight, mysterious, camera ready smile that was most common for him.

"Any comment on the latest chemical spill in the LuthorCorp plant in Jersey?" That voice was unmistakably Lois Lane's even if he could see no faces past the white spots. A turn of his head made it possible to actually see her and even make out a silent blonde beside her, it wasn't Kat Grant either. Oliver followed her like a puppy.

The lack of answer made her keep going, "Or maybe the claims that LuthorCorp has been pulling subjects from Belle Reeve to enter programs of unknown locations, purpose, or legality?"

Clark turned his eyes to Lane and gave her a wide, toothy smile that was charming though very dangerous, "We have no comment at this time, and you should really find a few facts before you throw questions around, Ms. Lane." They owned the newspaper anyway so they could kill any story she tried to put out.

They moved forward but Lane followed them much farther than any of the others dared, "What about the recent activity in the Luthor preserved caves in Smallville?"

Kal turned suddenly on his heel, facing the woman, close, in her personal space, giving her his most menacing smile, the one where his eyes glowed just a little, the one that was more than a threat but a promise of pain, "No comment. Though," he intentionally swept her body with his eyes, "I approve of that dress. And, hey, Oliver!" He shot a nearly, though not quite friendly look to the man glued protectively to his girlfriend. Or were they engaged now?

The flint in Oliver's eyes did not soften, but sadness welled in along the edges, "Clark. Lex."

"We should go for drinks some time! It's been too long! You could bring Lois." Kal was playing friendly, teasing and prodding because he could, threatening the way only a Luthor would understand.

"Yeah, do some catching up." Even the tone was enough to say that they would not ever be mixing socially without it being some event that made it mandatory.

"Like hell!" Loise hissed.

That just encouraged a pleased, malevolent smile from Kal before he turned away. People always assumed Clark was the happier of the Luthor children because he smiled quite often but they just did not understand that smile was a defense, a mask, a threat, and ploy to keep people from looking too deep. The brothers moved ahead and marched with all bravado, superiority, and entitled power a Luthor should through the glass doors.

It was chilled inside, more than the fall weather ever called for, but that was the way of the company, never letting anyone be comfortable. The colors, decoration, chairs, nothing in the building was warm or comfortable. None of that would be right for their image. Lex always wore his suit jacked inside to ward off that cold along with his vest and tie. Clark rarely had his jacket or tie, but he usually had the vest, top button of the dress shirt undone to project his carefree image just a bit. Lex suspected he did it mostly to make Lex stand out as the responsible, respectable one so it would be clear that he would be the one taking over once Lionel was gone. The heir and the spare played out in clothing habits.

It was a long five hours before they were able to leave the building. Lex felt relatively sick to his stomach, as he expected Kal might as well considering the ring their father had worn. He only touched Clark when it would hurt him, not out of affection, and Lionel had been full of showy gestures; rubbing Clark's shoulders every time he passed round the table full of men and women of the company. Clark never flinched but Lex watched to color drain from him each time, the ring glowing ominously. It had been nothing new, not even anything new in the company, so why did there seem to be a looming sense of foreboding?

Trying to shake it off, Lex walked shoulder to shoulder with Clark, though he had yet to come down from Kal's control. Even so, Lex felt the need to offer support of some kind even if it was not grand. The reporters were still up front, not allowed into the parking garage even if they did occasionally slip in somehow. It was quiet, even with the staccato clacking of twin expensive shoes hitting pavement. The cement walls kept it rather cool even in the summer but it was not as cold as the building.

"That went well, don't you think?" Kal asked airily, "Though I think Dad's got plans to get rid of that old bat on your side of the table. Can't say I disagree, her acting like she's on the moral high ground when she works for us. Isn't it in the manual that we do whatever it takes to make money? Like we're Wayne Enterprise or something?" Kal laughed his dark chuckle that usually made Lex scoot away for self preservation sake.

It was always uncomfortable whenever Kal was around, showing off his sadistic streak like it was perfectly normal. To date, he had never hurt any of them, never touched a Luthor more than enough to bruising, which that amount of control was just as frightening as when he put a fist through the hood of the car, but Lex was never sure when that might change. It made a tingle of fear run up his spine every time even though it felt like betrayal to even think of Clark hurting him, the thought was there.

He wished Clark would come back now that they were alone. Tess might not mind the darker side of their brother but they all knew Lex had little taste for Kal. Kal enjoyed making his brother cringe at the sadistic tendencies Clark did not possess. They all knew how Lex felt about Kal, it was no secret, and Kal generally shared the feeling, implying he cared little for Lex and his squeamish, cowardly tactics. The only time their fighting and rivalry was real was when Kal was in control. They hated each other even if they worked well together. It was so complicated.

The air smelled like trapped city and cars. Going out the back way was really so much better than leaving themselves open for more reporters. News did travel, and LuthorCorp had done quite a bit of shady dealings in recent months. It was very likely people thought there might be blood in the water, which might be true if they were any other company. Nothing as trivial as suspected illegal activity would touch them. Lionel would find a way to pin it on his children if anything ever came to that anyway.

An engine shifted to life somewhere on the level and some instinct in Lex had him glancing toward one of the many elevator shafts scattered around every floor. Modern architecture factored in things like convenience. He breathed just a little easier knowing one was very close just in case they needed to, say escape Lois and her assault and battery of questions. The sound came closer, moving in their direction, and Lex was eyeing the lift with greater interest. It was probably nothing, just his nerves being on edge.

His sharp eyes fell on the black car crawling around the corner and he nearly jumped when the door opened, letting a masked man out like this was some kind of movie, Godfather, maybe. Lex had never even watched it but he really thought there might be something in there like this, what with a gun swinging into full view. Instinct told him to run for the elevator as the mussel came around to point at him, his feet did not get the message even though the rest of his body was actually twitching with need to get away.

A warning shot was loud, so very loud, and very close to Lex's head. It was then that hands were on him, pushing hard, almost throwing him toward the elevator. That lean back and broad shoulders were suddenly all he could see, the dark paisley pattern of Clark's vest encompassing his vision, hearing the way that thick chest expanded with a deep breath. While he felt suddenly protected by the impenetrable force of his brother, his entire system was still in a panic. Clark must have surfaced, Kal would never defend him, Kal would never care, and Kal would let Lex take a bullet. Lex's fingers felt clumsy when he fumbled at the button, jumping a foot when the next shot rang out, he must have pushed the button ten times but he just kept pressing frantically, gasping for air that did not exist.

Clark's body jolted with the impact of the blow. There would be a bruise most likely, a little reminder of what had happened. Clark pressed back, almost plastering Lex to the doors, big hands braced on either wall of the doorway like he needed to hold it up. Thick fingers twitched and convulsed on the wall but surprisingly did not crack the gray cement.

A second, no, third shot rocked his ears, covering the ding of the elevator doors that had taken a lifetime to open. Lex nearly fell inside, ducking to the side where a wall would protect him, hunched in on himself and he could push the buttons the second Clark was inside. Clark staggered back, colliding dramatically with the wall, already working the angle they would have no choice but to portray. Once they were safe they would announce an attempt on their lives, saying how glad they both were they had the foresight to wear bulletproof vests, but Clark would need to act like the impact cracked a rib or something of that nature, wear a sling for a while. It would work even if Clark would have to do some acting to pull it off. Luthor's were good at that.

Lex mashed the button to close the doors with honest desperation, praying they would move faster. A bullet slammed into the wall beside Clark's head as he slid down the wall like he was in too much pain to stand on his own, a move timed just right to avoid being hit. Lex would almost believe it had been luck if he did not know how fast Clark could move. There was a camera so they would have to be careful. A loud thump was signal to another shot hitting the doors as they mercifully closed. Lex would need to give Clark his jacket to help hide the lack of blood, he was already shrugging out of it as he crouched on the floor.

"Clark... who were they?"

"Lex..." Clark's teeth were gritted, brows drawn together in pained strain, his eyes that dark shade they always were when it was Kal but open in a way only Clark's were.

Lex blinked, looking more intently, taken back because... this was something he had never seen. It was Clark, but with Kal mingled in. He had never in all his days seen that, seen the distinct aspects of the two mingled in a strange twine. For just a split second he wondered which one had shielded him, if... both of them had; if in that desperate moment, Clark had risen, but Kal had allowed it without leaving; if they had made a collective choice. Why? Why would Kal go along for the ride, unless Clark needed him? Who was he really looking at? Clark or Kal? He had never been unsure before.

A shuddering breath brought him away from his musing and the broken whine pulled him closer like a magnetism, "Clark? What's wrong?" There was no sound on the feed, they could talk freely.

Clark did not answer, he just kept gasping like breathing was difficult, eyes nearly rolling, and he made a broken sound. It was like he was honestly in pain, but that was not possible. Lex's eyes dropped to Clark's chest and a jolt shot through him of far more potent terror than facing down a gun had brought. The vest was shiny, wet, and the white shirt was creeping red. His hands shot out unbidden to touch and he felt the warm stickiness.

"Oh God!" His own chest constricted, the entire world cracking around him, "No!" He denied it fiercely as if will alone would make it a lie.

He should have seen there was something wrong, it should have been clear the way Clark's sure feet staggered, the desperation to get to the wall and lean on it had been real. He should have seen but he just never guessed it could be more than an act. The way Clark had been holding the door frame, bracing for... for another impact.

"Oh God!" Bracing for another bullet, bracing to keep himself from hitting his knees, bracing to take more so Lex would not be hit. Playing the part of a shield until the doors could be opened. That was why they were both there, Kal was stronger than Clark but Clark would never leave Lex. It almost made a twisted sort of sense even though he was not sure it did. He could not grasp why Kal would do such a thing but it did not matter just now.

Kal had been weakened by the ring but it should not have lasted this long, it never lasted long after he was away from it. Was there more somewhere in the garage? He found himself looking to that bullet that missed Clark's head with dawning horror, suddenly aware it really did miss by luck. There was a faint green glow coming from the tiny hole and the world broke around Lex even more.

Either the lift was lined in Kryptonite... or the bullets were. No one knew about Clark's weakness, at least no one living save the Luthor children and their father. Meaning this could only have been done by two people and Lex had an awful idea which one. The only real question was which of them had been the real target. Had Lionel intended to kill Clark? Was he just trying to make sure the bullets got to Lex if Clark was too close? Or was it a test to see... if Clark would save Lex at the cost of his own life?

"Clark, Clark!" Lex was petting Clark's face, smearing blood over that once tan skin that was quickly fading white, his hands unable to hold still, traveling everywhere in a wild, unmatched sort of desperation, "Hang on, please, please, please, we'll get you help, I promise, you'll be fine, just hang on!" Lex was shaking as badly as Clark if not worse. "It's going to be fine!"

Two bullets in the chest. God! Two bullets! There was no word that could describe what Lex was feeling, nothing in all the languages he knew seemed strong enough. They were inside his body, where Lex could not reach, only see the slight glow and the darkening of the veins around his chest. If he could reach them he might make it stop but he had nothing to dig them out and he was afraid what damage he might do if he tried.

This was earth shattering, life changing horror. It was the worst thing that had ever happened. His vision started to swim and he could not tell if it was because of tears starting to build or just the force of grief. Clark could be dying, slipping away and all he could do to stop it was press his thousand dollar coat to the wounds and beg God to hear a prayer just this once. He did not know if God had anything to do with a Luthor but he really had to try!

"Lex..." Clark's eyes were still that uncanny mixture of the two personas, a large hand fumbling, gripping Lex's shoulder, and the grip was weak enough to frighten Lex even more. Clark was not getting enough air, it was obvious by the gasps. It must have been too hard to speak but those trembling lips still breathed, "Lex, s'okay."

Tears splattered onto Clark's chin and his throat and that was how he realized dizzily that he was crying. He could see the light going out, dimming in those green eyes. Nothing in the world could have made him more desperate. There was no way to stop himself from curling his body around his brother as best as he could without moving him too much. "Clark, don't leave me, stay with me! Clark, stay with me!"

The elevator doors swished open to the main lobby, the highest floor this one would reach, which seemed to be where Lex's desperate clawing had told it to go. Eyes turned in boredom but they widened once the sight registered to them what they were seeing. He had no idea who most of them were. A secretary and who knew what else. Higher brain function was lagging at best, and worst ground to an absolute halt. He knew he must have looked like a wild animal but he could not care.

"Help! Call our doctor! He's been shot!" Lex told the room, babbling deliriously, "He's been shot! Do something, get on the phone!" He snarled like a rabid dog at the receptionist but it was not gratifying to see her jump, "Get our doctor! He's-!" It did not matter if he sounded weak, if his voice was cracking. "We have to get him to the helipad!" He turned his attention to the guards just standing and staring. "Now!"

It was one of the people in the lobby that moved first, swiftly crouching down on CLark's other side. The guards sort of trailed behind like they wanted nothing in the world to do with one or potentially two injured Luthors. Maybe they hoped if they were slow enough someone would bleed to death and rid the world of a threat. The first man was checking Clark over like a professional, checking his eyes, lifting the jacket to look at the damage, tapping a shoulder and calling out Clark's name to try gaining a response. Only then did Lex realize it was Queen. He guessed he remembered Queen Industries was supposed to meet their father for something.

Clark's breathing was labored and sounded more like a drowning man than a viral Kryptonian, his eyes rolling with inability to focus.

"He needs an ambulance, now!" Oliver locked eyes with Lex.

All he could do was frantically shake his head, "There's no time! He doesn't have that long! He needs a doctor that knows his health problems without looking at a chart! He has special health risks! He needs our doctors! The helipad is faster than wheels." Lex was barely breathing himself, verging strongly on a full blown panic attack. All he knew was that Clark could never go to a normal hospital, he needed more than an ER. "Help me get him there, please!" And it was as far from a command as a Luthor could get to outright begging, their ancestors would be rolling in their graves.

It was almost shocking when Oliver did, nearly picking Clark up alone, slinging one of those normally strong arms over his shoulders to support a limp body. "This is not the way he should be moved," Oliver growled, "but we don't have a stretcher. Grab his arm, Lex, and you two idiots! Grab his legs! Let's go!"

Oliver was usually almost quiet about his intensity, almost calm about his anger, but he was commanding when he wished to be. Something about him could inspire loyalty. The guards jumped to act the way they had not before and it could have been because of the tone or the fact that it was not the spawn of Satan giving it, it might never be clear. They moved as gracefully as a newborn but they were making it into the elevator that would take them all the way up so that was good. It was something.

"Hang in there, Clark!" Oliver soothed, and Clark actually looked at him for a minute.

Maybe he had just realized who was with them but he lacked the will to care for long. It was clear he was in agony, hurting the way anyone that had been shot would with the added torture of being poisoned with something as bad as acid burns or nerve gas or some other horrific invention. Every tiny jostle had that strong jaw working, adams apple bobbing with effort to keep quiet. The quiet moans were telling considering how quiet Clark had learned to be when he was in pain.

Every second was a torture all its own, a second more that Lex was helpless to make anything better, another minute Clark might not have if they did not get him help. When the doors opened to the roof it was like a gift, even more so when a pilot was coming out another set of doors. That receptionist must actually have made a call before she also probably called their father and also the press. He would kiss her and give her a raise if he ever thought of her again.

They managed to get Clark inside without moving him too much or too harshly. Though he was unsure how it happened, Clark's upper body ended up in Lex's lap while his legs were draped over Oliver's and it somehow did not seem in question that Queen would be going with them. That might not be strictly wise in the long run depending on how much a non-relative could learn about Clark but he did not have the emotional strength to refuse to allow it. If the man was willing to help not one but two Luthors it was sure a better offer would not come along.

They were in the air before it could be stopped anyway. Lex found he did not mind, might even feel grateful for the support. It was strange to take solace in someone he once hated so deeply. Interesting how lives and perceptions could change with just a little insight. Oliver did not look at them the way Lois did, nor even the rest of the world. Hate was a constant, a deserved constant in the life of anyone connected to Lionel, but Oliver knew things about them most never saw. Oliver Queen imparted a simply human decency to them most could not. It started years before when they had all been younger and the bitter blonde got a peek into the daily life of Luthor offspring and things had never been the same after.

Clark was fighting to breathe, each breath as painful or worse than the last, but it did not stop him from reaching up and wiping away tears Lex was unaware were falling down his cheeks. "S'okay, Lex."

"Why did you do that?" Lex was a little startled by just how broken he sounded, like he was experiencing puberty all over again, "Why? Why did you do it!"

Clark smiled and it looked like it took so much energy out of him, "Couldn't help it. You're my brother." There was still that mixture of those personalities and it put Lex off his usually sure feet.

Clark suddenly tried to sit up, eyes frantic as his breathing took on a seemingly new difficulty, leaving him gasping and sounding like he was breathing through a straw. Oliver kept his hands on Clark's chest, the medical pads of gauze red rather than white, Oliver's fingers just as stained as Lex's, but he had never seen the other man pull out the First Aid kit, never noticed him putting pressure on the bleeding chest right in front of him.

Lex worked to make Clark more comfortable, propped him up more with the use of his body. It put him even closer to his brother, let him hold him more tightly and holding him was comforting. "Stay with me, Clark! Promise you'll stay with me! Promise! Please! I'll hunt them down, I swear, they'll never get near you again!"

"Lex...you don't... need to... w-" A horrible, painful sounding cough shook them both but Clark almost breathed better after though not enough.

"Promise, promise, promise, promise!" Lex repeated it over and over like a prayer of supplication, "I'll never let you go! You have to understand that! If you try to leave I'll bring you back! Then I'll kill you for trying and bring you back again!"

Clark almost smiled, "Only you... would... try to... to threaten me...I... yes...I'll..." He should not be talking, not in his condition but that would not stop Lex from babbling.

"I'm older than you! I can make you!" He could never make Clark do anything but he had always been able to bluff a little boy into believing him, "You are never allowed to leave and you're never allowed to do this again! Do you hear me? I'm the big brother! I'm supposed to protect you! You pushed me away! You did it on purpose! You just stood there and let them! Just like you always do! You always do this!" Lex was not in control anymore, clinging to his brother like he could will it away, "You always challenge him so he focuses on you and not us! You push when you know he'll hurt you! Just like when you set fire to his desk when we were kids so he wouldn't know what Tess and I did! You burned the evidence and took the fall and we let you because we were too afraid to do anything! I'm sorry, I can't let you leave, I can't let you get hurt again! After this, we can all run away! An island somewhere! With the three of us working together, he'll never find us!"

"Shhh..." Clark lifted a badly shaking hand to cup the back of Lex's head, "Lex..." But the hand fell away and those green eyes closed, body going slack.

The world crashed, leaving Lex in a free fall, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" He was petting that perfect face again, begging with his whole being. "You can't go!"

"His heart is still beating." Oliver had to say it more than once for Lex to really hear it. "He's hanging on."