Chapter 25 Luthor Mansion
A/N: I admit that this is a really difficult chapter for me to write. As most of you probably know, I prefer to write about Clark and Lex as friends. But in this one, it's anything but….sigh.
Lex sat in his study for the first time in a week, going over the computer and making sure that everything was in order. Seeing that his files were still intact, he breathed a sigh of relief; the cool breeze easing the burning anger in his gut about everything related to China. I do things for those kids. Yet they just take it for granted! He frowned; frustration and rejection creasing his brow as he rubbed his forehead.
"Tension isn't good, Lex," Lionel reminded him from the doorway.
"Not now, Dad," Lex retorted while returning to the computer.
"Yes now, Lex." The older man hustled across the room and shut the lid on the laptop, nearly trapping the other's fingers in the process. "Your obsessions will be the death of you! They nearly killed you this time!"
"As if you're one to talk?" Lex snickered sarcastically. "Newsflash, Dad! You're the one who's behind all of this!"
"And how's that, Lex?" Lionel asked incredulously. "Since my return from prison, I've counseled you to stay away from anything to do with Isobel and those stones. Because you couldn't, you and Jason Teague spent the last four days in a coma. Lana and Jason are no longer dating but that's hardly a tragedy. Clark Kent and Lana Lang are suspended from school for the next week. They were sick and ran around the world causing all sorts of trouble. And then there's the business side of it too…."
"Business side? Now what?" Lex snapped while considering the Daily Planet's front page coverage of Tony and Oliver's respective ventures. "When did this happen?"
"Yesterday morning. Lex, you really have to focus!"
Lex flared at his father while springing out his seat. He backhanded the other man hard across the face. "Shut up, Dad! SHUT UP! I'm sick of your crap! You've cost me! I'm never good enough!"
With each sentence, another blow rained down on Lionel, bloodying his face, bruising his limbs. He collapsed under the onslaught as his son kept going. He felt his head go numb. Then something popped up there.
His head cleared from the stone's influence for the first time since the prison incident.
He caught Lex's fist in his own and landed a solid punch of his own to his son's midsection knocking the other back across the room. He rose to his feet with anger flaring in his irises and nostrils. "You are PATHETIC!"
The old Lionel had returned with a vengeance.
He grabbed Lex by the shirt front and threw him up against the wall. "You think you're up to the task? You make more messes than you fix. You don't keep your eye on the ball! Well, it's time you learned about life!" He smacked his son again across the face. "That's payback. Get ready for more."
"Right. Dad, get out!"
"I'll get out all right." Lionel glowered at Lex, letting his son know damn well he meant what he was saying. "If you want to be a Luthor, act like one. Because of you, we've lost the advantage in Metropolis to Tony Stark and Oliver Queen! Enough of this mewling! You want everyone to treat you like a man? BE ONE!"
"What's going on?" Clark asked from the hallway.
"Ah, Clark, back from your worldwide journeys, are we? I trust you and Miss Lang are all right?" Lionel queried while composing himself.
"We're fine now," Clark noted while looking the other two men over. "What's going on?"
"A disagreement. Now that I've rediscovered myself you might say, I'm back," Lionel informed Clark while locking eyes with him much as a cobra would size up a mongoose. And we're back at our game as well. With that, he left.
Clark felt himself tensing. Bad enough that Lex is acting the way he is now I have to deal with Lionel again too?
"Couldn't wait to get in my face, could you?" Lex supposed sarcastically.
"Lex, I just wanted to make sure you were all right," Clark explained. "After checking on my parents, this was the next stop."
"Or to see if I found anything else you can use against me?" the billionaire queried. "How did you find that hidden room in the temple, Clark? How'd you get us back to Shanghai or find Lana by yourself?"
Clark shrugged. "Luck and help from Iron Man."
"Iron Man," Lex reiterated, considering Stark's armored bodyguard. "Right. I heard how he bailed us out in Shanghai. But what happened to the stones? Funny, Tony Stark had no idea where they went either. At least he wouldn't lie to me—not about something like that. Unlike someone else."
"Lex, this isn't about me. You want to talk about lies? Fine! How about you and Jason going to China behind Lana's back! Your Dad was right. You pulled her and then me into that mess because you want power! You know how much that's cost both of us? Do you?" Clark retorted.
"Oh I'm sure having Lana back is a BIG cost," Lex scoffed.
"I love her."
"Oh right…you love her. Clark, you have no idea about commitment. It's about trusting someone with your life and soul. You keep more secrets than anyone."
Clark eyed the other man darkly. "I wonder why I have to."
"Excuse me?" Lex queried.
"Your obsessions. Those stones weren't for you, Lex. Yet you wouldn't stop. You need help," Clark pointed out.
"And you don't?" Lex insisted. "Clark, you're so buried in your own issues, I wonder how you can know what the rest of us want!" He pointed to the door. "Get out. I can't trust you. I know that now."
"As if I can trust you? Lex, I tried to be your friend."
"Talk's cheap, Clark. Leave before I call security," Lex told him angrily. "GO!"
Clark lingered in the spot for ten seconds, considering the man he'd befriended three years earlier. He'd defended Lex against everyone and everything. Yet now the billionaire couldn't share in their good fortune having escaped along the razor edge. He heard Jonathan's and Jor-El's words.
I told you so, Kal-El, Jor-El reminded him at that moment. Go and be with Lana Lang and the Kents. It will soon be time. This one, we will see again soon enough.
He frowned at the thought of Lex as an enemy but he'd accepted that inevitability on the plane ride back. "Then this is good bye, Lex."
"Yeah. I'll toast you. Get lost!" Lex spat.
Clark wiped a tear away from his cheek before walking away.
The world doesn't care? Fine! Then neither do I! He drank from a glass of scotch, feeling his heart growing cold. Neither will I. And we will meet again, Clark. Count on that!