Okay, so many of you have probably seen that Lex/Clark is a pairing in my Justice League A/B/O AU series, so I decided to write a story that contained the key moments of their relationship, up until the start of Secret Origins.

I hope you enjoy it, and please read and review ?

Young Clark Face Claim: .

Lex Face Claim: .

….

"Okay, here we go."

Clark chuckled at the sound of Chloe struggling with her horse behind them.

"I thought learning to drive my dad's Volvo was difficult but at least the car had windshield wipers!" the beta cried out, only causing Clark to chuckle more.

"You're doing fine for your first time Chloe!"

As Chloe tried to encourage the horse to turn, Clark turned to Lana beside him, "So, how's Whitney holding up?"

"His dad's still in the hospital, so he's been working extra shifts at the store."

Clark nodded in sympathy, "It's tough running a family business."

"… He secretly wants his dad to sell it. He doesn't want it when he graduates."

"I don't blame him. I don't see myself being a farmer when I grow up."

"Well, what do you want to do?"

Clark thought to himself for a few moments, before shrugging, "I'm not sure as long as it doesn't involve putting on a suit and doing a lot of flying."

"I dropped my camera!"

Laughing, Clark twisted around to face Chloe, "What'd you bring that thing for anyway?"

"I'm not out here doing this butt-bashing thing for fun! These woods are like the Bermuda Triangle of Smallville." As Clark and Lana rolled their eyes, Chloe shook her head, "I'm serious! People come in here, and when they leave they can't remember a thing! There've been dozens of incidents the past 10 years."

As Lana volunteered to go and search for Chloe's camera, Clark leaned over and grinned at his friend. "Lex was telling me the stories in these woods go back to the Civil War."

Chloe shook her head, "No, what I'm talking about happened a week ago. Surveyors from Rickman Industries came out screaming and can't remember what happened."

"… I'm sure you have a theory."

Chloe nodded and smirked at him, leaning in closer to whisper, "Kyle Tippett."

"Wait… The guy who sells weird sculptures in town?"

"Don't you think it's odd that he lives all alone out here in the woods?"

"Thoreau did."

"Yeah, Clark, so did the Unabomber!"

Suddenly there was a high-pitched scream from behind them, prompting them to spin around.

"Lana!" Clark gasped, quickly dismounting, and turning to Chloe, "Stay with the horses!"

Once he was sure that Chloe wasn't watching, he raced off in the direction that Lana had gone. When he reached a small clearing, he spotted Kyle, the very man they'd been talking about, kneeling over Lana.

"Get away from her!"

Kyle raced away, and Clark raced over to help Lana to her feet. "You okay?"

"Yeah, it's okay…. I'm fine."

It was then that Clark spotted the still-running camera lying on the floor.

…..

Later as he and his father watched the footage, focusing on when Kyle was kneeling over Lana, Jon turned to Clark. "What do you think happened, son?"

"I don't know… but it just doesn't look like he's trying to hurt her."

From the living room, he could hear his mother talking to Lana's aunt. "Okay, Nell… Thanks. Bye."

"How's Lana?"

Martha sighed, "A mild concussion. Other than that, she's fine."

"And Nell?"

"… That's a different story. She wants Clark to go to the police and say he saw Kyle spook Lana's horse and attack her."

Clark rolled his eyes at this. Nell could be… trying sometimes. "I didn't see that."

"Well, judging by Nell's tone, I don't think we've heard the end of this."

Both Jon and Clark groaned at this, with Jon turning to Clark. "Did Kyle seem at all dangerous to you?"

"No…. He seemed scared." Clark sighed wearily, "Chloe said some surveyors were spooked last week and now us. I wonder if there's a connection?"

"Jonathan, go talk to Kyle…." Martha asked her husband, "… Get this cleared up?"

"Yeah."

Clark stopped his Dad with a hand on his shoulder. "No, I'll go."

"Clark, I don't think that's a good idea."

"It's not like he can hurt me!"

"That is not the point!"

"Dad… I understand what it's like to be hidden from the world. Give me a shot?"

His parents glanced at once another, before Jon rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement, Alright… Do you know where Kyle lives?"

"I just follow the trail of bad sculptures."

…

Lex hated parties like this… full of people who wouldn't hesitate to stab him in the back or argue that omega males should be seen and not heard.

And Rickman was the worst of the worst.

"Miss Hardwick…" the Alpha man crooned at Victoria, "… I'm surprised to find you in Smallville?"

"It grows on you after a while."

"Don't encourage him, Victoria…." Lex sighed, smirking at Rickman, "… It's funny. I was just saying what this town needs are more pesticides in the water supply."

Rickman span around to face him, already putting on a dominate Alpha posture in an attempt to intimidate Lex. "Such a possessive little thing…" he sneered, "… Now, don't tell me you mind someone else sharing your little sandbox?"

Lex, however, wasn't phased in the slightest. "Only when they're polluting it Bob."

Rickman stepped forwards once more, clearly expecting Lex to tilt his neck to one side, adopting the usual submissive stance. Lex just turned away and grabbed a glass of wine, completely blanking the Alpha.

"I'll leave you boys alone." Victoria smirked at the pair, a smug smirk on her face as Rickman frowned at Lex's lack of omega conduct.

Sipping at the wine, Lex gestured at the photos that were all along the wall. "Photos are a bit over the top"

"Oh, it's only temporary…." Rickman pulled one of his election buttons out of his pocket and handed it over, "Here, have a button."

"Hmmm, enough of these, and they won't notice you're rendering the town uninhabitable."

Rickman tensed up at the sarcasm, "I'm just like you, Lex. A government employee sets my emissions levels, and I abide…. Do you have an objection?"

"Let's call it an interest." Lex smirked, "Smallville's my home now."

"That's right. Yes, Lionel had mentioned that he'd exiled you here."

When Lex's face fell, Rickman smirked, "Had dinner with him a couple weeks ago…. He's been interviewing a few Alphas for you actually."

"Yeah? What happened with you then? Somebody more important cancel on him?"

"… Don't worry, Lex, I'll keep my concerns away from the Luthors. I found the perfect place for the plant. It's out of the way, it's near the river."

Lex instantly knew where he was talking about, "The Kent farm? I assume you've approached them?"

"It's just a formality."

"The way licenses and zoning permits always seem to be a formality for you…." Lex glared at the Alpha, "I know the Kents, and not even you can convince them to sell that farm."

"You'd be surprised."

"Trust me, Bob…" Lex through the button back at Rickman, "… you're charming in the same way cockroaches are."

…

After Kyle's cryptic statement about how friends always betray one another, Clark found himself walking to the Talon, mulling over the words in his hand. When he walked into the coffee shop, he instantly spotted Lana and made his way over, sitting opposite her.

"How are you feeling?"

Lana smiled gratefully at him, "Better, thanks… Nell said you're going to talk to the police."

"Actually, I went out and spoke to Kyle."

"You talked to that psycho?"

Clark glanced up at Whitney, who had clearly been away to grab some coffee, "Yeah. He said he was making sure Lana was okay."

"Do you believe him?" Lana asked.

"Yeah, I think I do."

Whereas Lana seemed to be happy to accept that, Whitney couldn't help but make a sly dig.

"If I were there, I would have done something…. Some Alpha you are."

Clark resisted the urge to roll his eyes, turning his attention back to Lana. "Do you remember anything?"

"Not really."

Nodding in understanding, Clark sighed, "I gotta get home…. I'm glad you're okay."

Ignoring how Whitney glared at him, Clark pushed himself to his feet and made a hasty retreat to the front of the store.

"That looked uncomfortable."

Clark grinned at the familiar voice, turning to beam at Lex, who was giving him a fond smile of his own.

"I thought you and Whitney were going to get all Alpha on us… I was quite looking forward to it."

"He is so not worth it."

Lex chuckled at that, before suddenly becoming serious, "Listen, has Bob Rickman been by the farm?"

"No…. Why would he be interested in us?"

"He's interested in buying your land."

Clark chuckled at this, "You have met my dad remember? Why are you even worried?"

"… I've seen Rickman talk people out of house and home. He's a locust, Clark. He tears through a community and betrays anyone who trusts him…. Please tell your dad to be careful."

Knowing that Lex was being deadly serious, Clark gently took the omega's hand and gave him a reassuring smile, "I promise… Okay?"

Lex sighed in relief and nodded, waving Clark goodbye as the young Alpha headed out of the door.

….

Clark knew he said he would go home… but he had to admit to being a little curious about Rickman, which is why he was heading towards the man's offices… and then he saw Kyle coming out of them.

"Kyle, what are you doing here?"

"… I just registered a complaint."

Clark frowned, "What do you have against Rickman?"

"There used to be a time when people minded their own business you know."

"Hey, Tippett!"

Clark and Kyle span around to see Whitney storming towards them, exuding pure Alpha-ness. Kyle, as a beta, should have been un-nerved, but he just straightened up. "And what's your problem?" he growled.

"You are…." Whitney got in Kyles face, clearly trying to dominate him, "… Touch Lana Lang again, and I'll take care of you."

"Whitney, back off." Clark gently ordered, trying to defuse the tension.

Whitney however, didn't care. "I've got my eye on you." He scowled at Kyle, before storming away to his car.

"That's why I don't come into town…." Kyle sighed, gesturing at Whitney, "… Alpha posturing."

"Hmmm, you want a ride home?"

"… Why are you being so nice?"

Clark shrugged, "I figure you're not a bad guy. You're just not a people person."

"Ha, what gave that away?"

Clark beamed at the slight chuckle in Kyle's voice, "You want a ride or not?"

"Yeah, I gotta stop and get groceries."

"No problem."

Together they got into the car, before heading off… completely missing how Rickman went to speak to Whitney.

…..

"Thanks for the ride, I really appreciate it."

Clark grinned at Kyle, as they pulled up outside Kyle's caravan. "Next time, don't talk my ear off…. "he teased, before suddenly becoming serious, "Hey, why were you at Rickman's?"

Kyle smirked at the question, clearly not as uncomfortable as he used to be. "Why were you at Rickman's?"

"Lex…. Lex told me that Rickman was trying to buy our farm."

"Stay away from him."

Before Kyle could leave, Clark had another question for him. "Do you miss it? Regular life, I mean?"

"Some people weren't meant to have a regular life, Clark…. Thanks."

As Kyle made his way to his caravan, Clark headed back to his farm… only to spot Whitney's jeep parked not too far away.

Something was wrong.

Dashing out of his jeep, Clark sped back to Kyle's home, darting in front of the man just as a baseball bat came swinging down towards a kneeling Whitney… which of course meant that it connected with Clark's neck and shattered into lots of tiny wooden shards.

Before Kyle could realise exactly what was going on, Clark lightly struck him in the chest… which of course meant that Kyle flew straight into his caravan.

And then he called his Dad.

…..

"They're booking Kyle for assault…." Jon sighed as he made his way over to Whitney and Clark, "… All right, what happened, guys?"

Whitney was quick to speak up, "I saw Kyle in town. He blew me off, so I came out here to talk."

"You drove out here in the middle of the night?"

"Yeah. I had a feeling he was gonna attack Lana again and a good Alpha protects their omega…. Next thing I know, he attacks me with a bat."

Jon then turned to Clark, "Is that what happened?"

"I did see Kyle swing at Whitney, but- "

"- But what?"

Clark winced, before gesturing at the car that Kyle was being escorted away in. "Kyle says Whitney swung at him first."

"That's crazy!" Whitney yelled, "Why would I do that?"

"I don't know…. None of this makes any sense."

"Yes, it does! First, he attacks Lana, then he comes after me. The guy needs to be locked up!"

"We've all had a rough night…." Jon sighed, "… why don't we just calm down?"

Whitney ignored him, "You saw it with your own eyes!" he yelled at Clark, "That freak tried to kill me! Now you're saying it's my fault?"

Clark remained silent, turning away when Whitney groaned in disgust and left.

…

After arguing with Lana, who firmly believed that Clark was deliberately accusing Whitney of violence in order to get back at him for stringing Clark up as a scarecrow, Clark found himself storming home.

Whitney was totally the type of Alpha who would lash out, why couldn't Lana see that!

Unfortunately, if he was hoping to have some peace and quiet when he got home, he was going to be disappointed.

"How could you do this without telling me?!" Martha was yelling at Jon, her face almost as red as her hair, "What happened to 'This land is our legacy'?!"

"Ummm, what's going on, guys?" Clark asked, taking a step back when his mother turned to him, anger still in her eyes.

"Your father sold the farm to Bob Rickman!"

Feeling his heart sinking into his stomach, he turned to his Dad, "What? How?"

"… One minute I'm telling him he doesn't stand a chance. The next, I got a signed contract." Jon looked as though he was going to either swear or pass out from shock.

"Well, I called our lawyer…" Martha continued, "… He said he can't do anything until he sees the contract, but the devil-made-me-do-it argument wouldn't hold up in court!"

Jon groaned, glancing at the contract and throwing it to the table. "Just can't believe I did this!"

Frowning in confusion, knowing that his Father wasn't easily persuaded, Clark sighed. "What did Rickman do?"

"He made his case, he shook my hand…. That was it."

"It can't be that easy!"

"How else do you explain my signature on this contract?"

Clark was silent for a short time, before straightening up and pulling his phone out of his pocket, "I know someone who can help."

"No!" Jon growled, "I will not owe Lex Luthor anything, thank you."

Before Clark could leap to the defence of the omega, Marth spoke up, her voice still cold and tense. "Right now, you don't have anything to owe!"

With Jon wincing at his wife's tone, Clark continued to his room, firing off a quick message to Lex.

MEET ME AT THE TALON. CODE RED.

…

Grabbing a couple of coffees for him and Lex, Clark made his way back to the table, ignoring how Whitney and Lana glared at him from their own table.

"Ouch…." Lex winced, gratefully accepting the coffee, "… What's that all about?"

Clark rolled his eyes, "I won't cave on my opinion of Kyle Tippett. It put me on the outs with Lana."

"So, you're Atticus?"

At Clark's confused look, Lex chuckled and elaborated. "Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird?"

"Sorry, I've never read it."

Knowing that Clark was feeling a little ashamed, Lex smiled at him, "You should. You two have a lot in common. Small-town heroes, believe in the truth not willing to back down."

"How's it end?"

"Ah… well, it's not about the ending. It's about the journey."

Clark chuckled, twisting around to glance at Whitney and Lana, before turning back. "What kills me is that I know I'm right…. I just wish I could get them to see it."

Chuckling, Lex shook his head, "That, my friend, is the key to leadership knowing you're right and convincing everyone. If you can do that, the world's your oyster."

"Right now, I'd settle for getting our farm back."

Lex gave him a sympathetic smile, "Well, the good news is, the deal's three times market value. The bad news is, it's ironclad, meaning it'll take a dozen extra lawyers…. Fortunately for you, I've got an army of them."

Sighing in relief, Clark reached over and took Lex's hand, not caring who saw them. "Thank you…" he whispered, "… For once I think my parents will be glad for your help."

"I wonder what Rickman said to convince your father…" Lex mused, "… I know the farm's in debt, I've been trying to help with that, but Rickman will pave it and turn it into a wasteland."

"I just know my father would never sell the farm."

"Except that he did Clark… Rickman's known for getting past people's defences but that's just good business. Unless you think there's more to it than that?"

There was a brief moment of silence, before Clark suddenly came to a realisation and got to his feet, causing Lex to frown.

"Where are you going?"

"Jail."

"Right… want a lift?"

….

When Lex dropped him off, promising that he would get his lawyers to work on the contract, Clark headed towards the jail… only to see Kyle leaving, dressed in a deputies' uniform.

"Kyle!"

Kyle turned around, only for his eyes to widen when he spotted someone behind Clark. When Clark span around, he gasped at the sight of another deputy aiming a gun at Kyle… and firing.

"NO!"

He watched as the bullet flew by in slow motion, chasing after it in an attempt to save Kyle.

He was slightly too slow.

With a grunt, he managed to push Kyle slightly out of the way, but the bullet still went through Kyle's shoulder. Without even pausing, he sped them to a safe place and pulled out his phone.

HEY. YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN TOO FAR AWAY HAVE YOU?

NO. WHY DO YOU ASK? - LL

I MAY NEED A RIDE… AND DO YOU KNOW A GOOD DOCTOR?

…..

"How bad?" Lex asked as he and Clark watched the 'doctor' tend to Clark.

"It's no worse than when Ozzy snorted that row of fire ants down in Queensland."

At this, Clark made his way over to Lex and whispered in his ear. "Is this guy really a doctor?"

"He was…. Now he's more of an on-call specialist. You know, actors, rock stars, billionaires' sons."

"How do you know him?"

"Long story."

Before Clark could enquire, the 'doctor' spoke up again. "What's a guy gotta do to get a drink around here?"

Lex rolled his eyes, "Finish sewing…." He then turned to Clark, "… Don't worry, Toby appreciates discretion. Nobody will ever know Kyle was here."

"Thanks."

"I'm curious though, why did you think I'd be willing to harbor a fugitive?"

"Because you love me and want to help?"

At Lex's raised eyebrow, Clark sighed and fidgeted on the spot. "My parents would freak, and if I took him to a hospital, they'd put him back in jail…. You're the only one I could trust."

Lex was clearly thrilled with this, a soft smile appearing on his face as Toby finished up the last stitch.

"All in all, it's easier than that knife wound of yours…." Concluded Toby, smirking at Lex, "… Club Zero, remember that? Blood all over my Mustang."

"Can we talk to him now?" Lex sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Nah, I gave him something for the pain. It's lights out until the morning…. My usual payment?"

"… Brown bag on my desk. See you, Toby."

"Lex."

Once Toby had gone, Lex turned back to Clark. "You'd better get home. It's late and I don't want your parents freaking out that you're here… and you might want to change your shirt."

Clark glanced down and flushed at the sight of blood staining the flannel material, "Oh… yeah."

"And I don't think I'll have anything that'll fit you… pity really."

At Clark's flush, Lex let out a fond chuckle. "I'm joking of course. I believe some of my drivers keep spare shirts in the laundrey room. One of them should fit you…. Hopefully."

…

The next morning, after receiving quite a few texts about Lana and how 'she was so under Whitney's thumb', Lex made his way to the Talon for a coffee.

"Hello, Lex."

Resisting the urge to groan at the voice, Lex turned around and glared at Rickman, who was holding out a hand to him.

Lex just stared at it.

"Oh, come on, Lex!" Rickman groaned, "This Art of War stuff is for amateurs!"

"It's not that…. I just don't like you."

Rickman may have chuckled when Lex shouldered past him, but it was a little forced sounding.

"So…" Rickman began, "… my attorney tells me that my purchase of the Kent farm is being challenged."

"Well I did warn you that the Kents were a tough nut to crack."

"… I recognize LuthorCorp lawyers when I see them." Rickman leaned forwards, a confused smile on his face, "Why are you involved?"

Lex paused for a moment, before smirking, "Smallville's my home, and the Kents are my friends. Why shouldn't I fight for them?"

Chuckling, Rickman got to his feet. "Well, with friends like you, Lex."

As he walked past, he placed a hand on Lex's shoulder, who shrugged him off.

"Don't touch me." The omega snarled, before relaxing, "Speaking of old friends, I heard Kyle Tippett escaped from jail."

"Now, why do you assume we're old friends?"

"… Just a rumour."

"Have you seen him?"

Lex smirked, "I never met the man, but I'll be sure to pass on your regards when I do."

Rickman clearly didn't believe him, but decided to walk away anyway, only to stumble into Clark.

"How'd you get my dad to sign that contract?" Clark asked, not even bothering to say hello or anything.

"Oh… you must be the Kent boy." Rickman shrugged, "I'm a good businessman." He then held out his hand, "No hard feelings?"

There was a brief pause, before Clark grabbed the hand and returned the handshake, ever so slightly tightening his grip as Rickman tried to break free.

The bones in the hand didn't break, but it was a close thing… and it would discourage Rickman from trying to be all friendly again.

At the table, Chloe was pulling out her research on Rickman and Kyle.

"I spent the morning delving into the exotic world of agriculture equipment and it seems that Kyle and Rickman were partners in the '80s."

"They sold farm equipment?"

Chloe nodded at Lex, "Yeah they were salesmen of the year three years running, '89, '90, '91. The next year, Rickman started his own company, and Kyle went Walden."

Clark frowned, "I wonder what happened?"

"I don't know but I found this story in the Smallville Ledger…." She handed a newspaper clipping over, allowing Clark to read it.

"Salesmen trapped in car after meteor shower?"

"Yeah, and I'm guessing whatever's going on started that sunny October day, 12 years ago."

After a brief pause, Lex chuckled, "Well, let's go ask him."

"Wait, you know where he is?"

…

Unfortunately, it appeared as though Kyle wasn't where he was supposed to be…. And Mercy was looking a little dazed, standing by the large bed.

"Where's Kyle, Mercy?" Lex asked, walking over to his bodyguard and gently shaking her, "Mercy?"

"I-I-I don't know."

Clark groaned slightly under his breath, before snapping his fingers, coming to a realisation. "I think I know where he went."

…..

Powers of persuasion and Chloe has some feelings for him.

Today was a day of surprises.

….

After Clark left, closely followed by Chloe, Lex decided to get cracking on paperwork and reading over the lawyers notes.

And then the door opened.

Rickman entered, his characteristic smug smile on his face.

"How did you get in?" Lex growled, instantly going on the defence.

Rickman plastered a fake look of shock on his face, as though he was surprised by the question, "Oh, your guard at the front gate let me through…. He's a great guy."

Thomas, a loyal beta, would never have done that, but Lex decided to play it cool.

"I didn't realize we had a meeting."

Rickman shrugged and walked closer, "We don't…. I come with an olive branch. You can call off your lawyers, I'm dropping the Kent farm as a proposed site."

With a smirk on his face, Lex leaned forwards, "What's the matter? Losing your touch?"

"No, I've just decided Smallville really isn't worth the hassle. At least I know where I'm not wanted."

"You should have come to that realisation sooner… well, thanks for stopping by."

"Well, since you won, how about it?" Rickman held out his hand, "Truce?"

…..

/Hello? \\

Clark sighed in relief when he heard Lex's soothing voice over the payphone he was using at the gas station closest to Kyle's place, "Lex, it's me."

/What's going on? \\

"I'm with Kyle. He wants to go public about Rickman."

/No kidding? What does he know? \\

"Enough to bring him down."

/All right, I'm coming to pick you up. Where are you? \\

Clark gave him the location gratefully, quickly hanging up and taking a deep breath.

Less than half an hour later, Lex pulled up in one of his older cars, quickly getting out and smiling at Clark. "I called friends at the Planet and the Inquisitor…" He turned to Kyle, "…Would you be willing to talk to them?"

"I'll do what I have to, to stop him."

"… Get in. I have to fill up if we're going to Metropolis."

"Thanks, Lex."

As soon as Clark and Kyle were in the car and strapped in, Clark's noticed how the locks suddenly clicked shut.

"Lex? What's going on?"

The sound of something being poured on the car only made Clark panic harder…. And then he saw the flames.

"Rickman's got to him!" Kyle exclaimed in alarm, struggling with the locked door.

Not caring about who saw him, Clark kicked his door off of his hinges, allowing him to clamber out and wrench Kyle's door away from the rest of the car. Together, they raced away, diving forwards as the car burst into flames, before exploding dramatically.

Kyle was knocked unconscious, which gave Clark the opportunity he was waiting for. Lifting the older man into a fireman's lift, Clark zipped away, not noticing that he was being watched.

"Clark…" Lex smirked, "… you have some explaining to do."

….

Rickman groaned as he pulled up to the gas station, watching as the flames from the recent explosion started to die down. "What just happened?"

Lex just gave him a blank stare, "… I have my suspicions."

"I hate to think that you failed to get the job done."

"Relax, failing isn't something I do."

He could ask Lex to do anything… anything at all… but Kyle and Clark needed to die first. Silently, he wiped the fingerprints from a small automatic rifle, before handing it over to Lex. "Just in case."

….

"I always knew you were keeping secrets from me, Clark!"

Clark winced as he ducked behind a car in the run-down garage,

But I never thought they were this good…. and here I thought you liked me!"

Suddenly, there was a bang and a grunt of pain as Lex probably found Kyle and dragged him to his feet. "Clark, you know that guy you're trying to protect… I'm gonna shoot him now."

Quickly, Clark emerged from his hiding place and held up hands in surrender, "Lex."

"There you are!" Lex let go of Kyle and smirked at Clark.

The tone was lacking its usual warmth, causing Clark to frown harder and step closer, "Don't do this…. I'm your friend remember? I- "He cleared his throat, "- I really care about you Lex, you know this!"

Lex sneered at this, "Oh, please… You think I don't see the way your parents look at me the way half the town looks at me? Just some weak omega who slept his way to the top and is now trying to get into some teen's pants! Friendship's a fairy tale, Clark…. Respect and fear are the best you can hope for!"

"Rickman's doing this to you."

"What if he did?"

"… You hate Rickman."

"You can learn a lot from those you hate." Quickly, Lex aimed his gun at Clark and opened fired.

Clark managed to dodge the majority of them, but several hit him in the front and the back, sending him crashing to the floor, all the air having been forced from his lungs as he gasped on the ground.

Before he could get back up, Clark was rolled onto his back and a gun aimed at his face. Thinking quickly, Clark kicked Lex away, wincing in sympathy as the omega crashed into several metal shelves.

"Lex!"

The omega was completely knocked out, barely stirring when Clark gently cupped his cheek to check that everything was alright.

As he checked over Lex Clark failed to notice Kyle leaving the building.

Not until he heard the gunshot.

Knowing that Lex was alright, Clark sped back towards the fire, to find Kyle standing over the dead body of Rickman.

"I always was the better salesman."

And with that Clark got it… Kyle persuaded Rickman to shoot himself… and that was kind of okay with him.

"Are you okay?" he asked Kyle, who nodded, a frown on his face.

"I saw you get shot, Clark."

Before Clark could even think about lying to save his own skin, Kyle held up his arm.

"Don't worry…. Just don't hide in the woods like I did. You got a gift. Use it to do great things. I think I'll do the same with mine."

…..

"I can't believe each one of these bruises was a bullet." Mused Martha, pressing an ice pack against the wounds, wincing as Clark hissed in pain, "Sorry."

Jon glanced up from the newspaper, after reading about Rickman's suicide, "Guess that answers that question."

"It's weird…" Clark sighed, "… I get shot at, and the bullets are fired by my best friend, the person I want to- "

He stopped, not finishing the sentence as Jon and Martha glanced at each other.

"What do you think happened to Kyle?" Jon eventually asked, watching as his son buttoned up his shirt.

"I don't know… but I think he's out in the world trying to make a difference now."

"Hi, I hope I'm not interrupting."

Everyone glanced up as Lana entered the house, with Clark shuffling nervously from side to side. "No, come on in." he eventually said, already preparing himself for another argument.

Sensing the tension, Martha gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, "We'll be outside."

As soon as they left, Clark frowned slightly at Lana. "I didn't know if we were still talking."

"… I'm not sure what happened with Kyle, and it's really not important because I think our friendship is worth more than one argument."

"Yeah, me too…" He beamed at her, before shuffling from side to side nervously, "… You know, I thought we were done there for a while."

"You and me are gonna be friends for a very long time Clark. We may have our ups and downs, but that's just the way it works…. Did Chloe really kiss you?"

"No comment."

…..

"Clark."

Clark turned away from his barn window view, and beamed at a clearly nervous Lex, "Hey. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay… Tell your dad I spoke to my lawyers. Because of Rickman's untimely demise they're not expanding…. They ripped up the contract."

Clark sighed in relief, "Thanks."

"Hey, what are friends for?"

At the slightly pained wince, Clark found himself frowning in concern. "How're you feeling?"

Lex shook his head, "I still don't remember what happened…. Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"

Patting his chest, Clark smirked and shook his head, resisting the urge to flush when Lex's own hand rose, as if he was going to touch Clark's chest, before pulling himself away and heading towards the window. "I wonder where Kyle is now?"

"I don't know… It's still strange to think he and Rickman were once best friends." Clark turned to Lex, "Think we'll ever end up like that?"

"Trust me, Clark…. Our friendship is gonna be the stuff of legend."