Title: Necessary Darkness
Author: Maddie
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: None
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Smallville and all the characters living there belong to the WB and DC comics, but the plot and all original characters belong to me.
Summary: A business meeting goes sour. Lex thought he'd finally become immune to Lionel's loveless attitude. Lex and Lionel's relationship. No slash just family.
Authors notes: Special thanks to CJ for beta reading, and for the folk as sv_fanfiction_workshop for their comments and suggestions. Thanks also to Jessamyn for her title suggestions. I actually combined two of the titles she had tossed my way.

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NECESSARY DARKNESS

Fog, wispy and ghostlike, patched across the highway, creating hesitant tendrils that threatened to mask the road. The dark Porsche slipped through the thickening bands, moving with almost silent speed along the deserted interstate traveling far above the posted speed limit; its driver oblivious to the fog, the speed, the potential danger. A chill had begun to settle over the countryside, but the atmosphere inside the vehicle was anything but cold. Lex Luthor cursed. It had been many months since his father had gone to such lengths to arouse his anger. Many months since heartless, but carefully chosen words had cut deeply enough to wound.

Lex had almost convinced himself that he could deal emotionlessly with his father's insensitivity, but once again he had been proven painfully wrong. His proposition had been a simple one; expand the Smallville plant making use of the now publicly known level three. The investors were interested and the workforce was readily available. Although he had not expected his father to embrace the idea wholeheartedly, neither had he expected Lionel's vehement rejection of the plan. Lex did not remember the exact words his father had used. In the long run, it did not matter. All that mattered was that the words had been spoken, with cutting acerbity, intended to demean, deride, degrade. All the big 'd's, Lex thought, the bitter taste of humiliation creeping up the back of his throat. Dear old dad knew just how to work an audience. This time he had chosen to humiliate his son, not on a one-to-one basis as he normally did, but in front of a boardroom full of investors. Men whom Lex dealt with daily. Men eager to be part of the LuthorCorp world. Men willing to use any tactic to achieve that goal. Men who would now snigger behind his back. Not only had his father's words cut him to the core, they had seriously undermined his standing with these men. Damn, you, Father.

Lex knew his father had been goading him, hoping he would respond as he so often had, with violent words and a flaring temper, but Lex had not given him that satisfaction. He had kept his gaze level, meeting his father's impenetrable eyes calmly, answering with softly spoken words he no longer remembered. He had salvaged some small part of his dignity and credibility by the time the meeting had ended a few minutes later. He had slowly packed his briefcase, turned his back on his father and walked proudly from the room. After all, Luthors never show emotion when confronting business competitors. They never show emotion when confronting family either.

By the time he had reached the penthouse Lex's anger was barely contained. The meetings had dragged into the early evening, longer than originally planned. He thought of attempting to embarrass his father by spending time in one of the infamous Metropolis hangouts he usually frequented, but decided that would be playing into his father's hands. Instead, he threw his clothing into his overnight bag, tossed it into the back of his Porsche and left for Smallville. No one could accuse him of pouting. His business in Metropolis was concluded, and he had planned on departing in the early morning. Besides, Luthor's don't pout. The long drive to Smallville would allow him to think, and formulate a suitable response. As he drove into the night, the twisted hurt and anger that had consumed him since his father's verbal lashing slowly became cold, and calculating. He would not allow his father's loveless attitude destroy him, but he was not going to let his callousness go unchallenged either.

Deep in thought, he finally registered the insistent ringing of his cell phone. Absently he groped on the seat beside him until his hand found the phone. With only the slightest glance away from the road, which had become perilously shrouded in fog, he read the number of the incoming call. He laughed bitterly, then switched the power off and tossed the phone back onto the passenger seat.

****

Lionel Luthor impatiently drummed his fingers on the polished marble desktop. "Answer the phone, Lex. Just once make some attempt to be cooperative. I can't protect you if you don't let me." The ringing at the other end of the line stopped abruptly. Although he tried repeatedly, he was only able to connect with Lex's answering service, not yet knowing his son was halfway between Metropolis and Smallville. Your arrogance will be your downfall, Lex, the elder Luthor thought.

"Dominic," he said into the intercom on his desk. "Assemble your men and find my son. Check his usual haunts. Then bring him to me."

****

Lex continued to drive into the darkness. Guiding his car along the darkened, empty roadway, the physical mechanics of driving acted like a panacea, dulling the anger that had clouded his thinking earlier. He was once again calm and in control. Only his father could ruffle the unflappable confidence which normally marked his demeanor. Lost in thought he was startled to see the flashing lights of a police vehicle several hundred yards in front of him. Damn, speed trap, was his first thought as he applied the brake, glancing at the radar detector mounted under the dash. The instrument sat silent.

As he drew to a stop beside the officer's car, Lex rolled down the window.

"What seems to be the problem, officer?" Lex asked.

"I'm sorry, sir," the officer said. "There's been a serious accident a mile or two down the road. Hazardous materials spill. This side of the interstate is completely blocked. I'll have to ask you to take this next exit and follow Rt. 16, then pick up the interstate at the Martensville interchange."

Martensville, Lex thought, calculating the delay the detour would cost. Minimal, he concluded. He should still be back in Smallville by 1 AM. Nodding to the officer he eased his car towards the exit.

Unseen by Lex, the officer raised his hand, and two dark vehicles moved out of the fog, onto the exit ramp behind Lex. Patting the wad of money in his back pocket, the officer grinned as he walked to his own vehicle, turned off his flashing lights, and drove off down the interstate in the direction Lex had been traveling.

(End part 1)