Children wore expressions of disappointment as they trudged behind their parents carrying shopping bags. September was approaching and the bags were filled with school supplies and clothing. Clark Kent had managed to navigate through the back-to-school shoppers in Staples and pick up a sturdy oversized blue and red backpack, a couple notebooks and some other last minute supplies he needed for his first semester at college.

His clothes had already been moved into Lex's penthouse, a fact he was glad of as he waded through the crowds in the streets of Metropolis, because the stores were packed with last minute shoppers trying to take advantage of the sales. The image of he and Lex going clothes shopping flittered across his mind and Clark burst out laughing. They had two totally different styles in clothing. He didn't have anything against dressing up, Clark just saved it for special occasions. His own idea of comfortable clothing was a comfortable shirt, jeans and a pair of sneakers. Lexhad more expensive tastes, not that he wouldn't wear a tee shirt, slacks and a pair of dress shoes, but the tee shirt would cost more than Clark's entire outfit. So Clark's current wardrobe was very eclectic, ranging from clothing he'd wear on the farm, business suits he wore on his old job and custom fitted clothing that had been bought on shopping trips with Lex.

Finally he reached home, and the doorman looked at him quizzically before letting him inside. "Thank you," said Clark as he headed towards the elevator.

Out of the corner of his eye Clark could see the doorman sneering at him. "Deliveries are to be left down here."

Clark put down one of his shopping bags and said, "I'm not delivering anything. I live here."

"You, live here," said the young doorman sarcastically. "In what apartment, sir?"

"Penthouse," replied Clark grabbing the elevator key out of his jacket and holding it out.

The doorman walked over and took the key from Clark, inspecting it carefully. "Looks real enough," he said, pushing the key back into Clark's hand. "You must be the live in help. A piece of advice," he sneered looking up and down Clark. "There's a certain standard of dress that people in this building follow. As soon as you get your first paycheck, you might want to start following it." Looking over Clark once more, the doorman returned to his post.

Clark picked up the bag, knowing it was the clothes he was wearing that made the doorman suspicious. They were the same type of clothes he wore when he'd hung out with Lois and Jimmy after work, same type of clothes he'd wear on the farm. Shrugging the behavior off, he pressed the button for the elevator and stepped in as it immediately opened. Using the key he overrode the lockout on the penthouse floor and went up to the apartment. He put his new supplies away and threw out the bags. Then he grabbed the carton of milk from the fridge and sat at the kitchen table staring at his program. On Monday he'd begin his freshman year, three years older than any of his classmates.

First semester classes were standardized. He was taking the same program as everyone else. It wouldn't be till the winter semester that he could even begin taking classes towards his major, not that he had chosen one yet. There were four programs of study that he was considering. He was considering astronomy and linguistics to help him find answers about why he was sent to Earth in the first place, not that he could imagine living anywhere else. Then there was journalism. At first he hadn't been interested in it only working at small town papers for the money. But he found he had a talent for reporting and enjoyed it, which is why it was on the list. Lex grumbled over that choice, saying he had no fondness for reporters but would make an exception if he choose to return to that line of work. Lastly there was business, it was mostly on his list because of Lex, but he promised to consider it so he would.

He put the half-empty carton of milk back in the refrigerator, put his program in the front pocket of his backpack then lay down on the couch and turned on the radio to a local station and looked around the room. Except for himself nothing in the room stated that he lived here. Aside from the clothing and the stuff he picked up today, everything was Lex's. It made him slightly uncomfortable.

So did the issue with his college tuition. Being an Ivy League institution, Metropolis University wasn't cheap. Lex had pushed through the grading of his SAT scores and stated that he in no way influenced the grade, he'd earned the 1430 on his own. Unfortunately with his extremely late admissions, he'd missed the deadline to qualify for any scholarships and all forms of financial aid with the exception of loans. Lex had wanted to pay the tuition himself but Clark wouldn't let him. After grumbling about "Kents and their pride," a compromise was born. Lex would front the money for his tuition and Clark would pay it back after he graduated.

He wouldn't be paying back Lex directly but putting the money into one of the scholarship funds. If in future semesters Clark qualified for any scholarships deducted from the total amount owed upon his graduation. Clark had insisted on the transaction being completely legal so a contract was signed and stored safely away in two locations. One copy was in Lex's personal safe; the other was on the farm.

Clark drifted off into a light sleep as he listened to the music. He awoke feeling a slight pressure on his chest and feather light kisses placed across his face. "Mmmmm, welcome home," he mumbled eyes blinking open to see Lex's beautiful face.

"I like this type of homecoming. Finding a tall, dark and handsome college student sprawled upon my couch," said Lex, removing his jacket.

"How was your trip?" asked Clark, sitting up so Lex could get on the couch.

"Good now that it's over," chuckled Lex, darting forward to steal a kiss. "It went well. How was your day? Did you have any problems moving in?" Lex had been upset when an emergency meeting at a plant in Ohio forced him to be away when Clark had moved in.

"Moving went fine. The last of my stuff is being shipped in. It's supposed to arrive Tuesday. I basically just brought clothes with me. Today I went out and bought school supplies, now all I need is to pick up text books once they're assigned."

"That's good. Especially that there were no problems?"

Blushing, Clark looked away from Lex mumbling, "Well..."

"What happened?" asked Lex harshly.

"It wasn't anything big," he said shaking his head. "No, it isn't important, forget it."

"What happened Clark? No secrets remember, we promised. The only exception is with presents and surprises. I'm guessing this doesn't qualify as either." Lex's hand cupped his face softly and turned Clark to look at him.

"Promise me you won't do anything about this Lex, it's not a big deal."

"If it wasn't a big deal you would have told me already."

"It just ... the doorman gave me some problems when I came in today. It wasn't really what he said," explained Clark. "It was just how he said it and how he looked at me."

Lex clenched his jaw and reached over for the telephone.

"Lex what are you doing?"

"Calling the building manager."

"You promised."

"Damn it Clark," said Lex, standing up and running his hand over his head in frustration. "He had no right to do that to you. Not that questioning you was wrong but if the way he did it made you uncomfortable. You're living here too, you shouldn't have to deal with that."

"It was probably cause he hadn't seen me before Lex. If you do this you may get him fired. Just... just give him another chance."

"Fine, but if he says anything or does looks at you anyway that makes you uncomfortable, you have to tell me. Promise."

"I can take care of my own problems Lex. I'm not fifteen anymore," he said, looking into Lex's gray-blue eyes.

"I know you are not fifteen, but most people in the world are not like you or your parents. They'll walk right over you if you give them the chance, and even though you can't be physically hurt, you do get emotionally hurt. If I can protect you from that I will." His hand brushed against Clark's cheek.

"If I can't handle him, I promise I'll ask you for help."

"So, what shall we do now?" asked Lex, looking in the direction in the bedroom.

"Food?" suggested Clark. "So we have more calories to burn off."

"All right. Go get dressed."

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"The restaurant I have in mind has a dress code. Ties and jackets mandatory." Rolling his eyes, Clark headed into the bedroom to change. "Won't be that bad Clark. We only have to keep eating out until I hire someone to take care of this place and do thinks like cooking for us."

"I do know how to cook, Lex."

"Don't worry. It will be somebody we both like."