Part 6

After breakfast--blueberry waffles smothered in syrup and eaten in a room slightly resembling the Kents' kitchen, only bigger--Lex and Bruce made their way to a spacious library. It was an impressive collection; wall-to-wall books and Lex knew most of them were first editions and very valuable. He'd read it in one of the many articles about Bruce that had cropped up since last year. The article didn't do it justice, just as they never did Bruce justice, either.

His host was in full business mode by now, having already fielded calls from the Gilcrests, the caterers and several other people. In fact, it seemed as if his cell phone was permanently glued to his ear for the duration of at least an hour straight--before he'd even finished his morning repast. In the brief spaces of time when it wasn't, Alfred was at his side, inquiring about arrangement for "the Kent party." It was decided that Jonathan Kent and whomever was in his party--Clark perhaps?--could stay in the pool house. It was cozy and less hectic than the main house at the moment.

Bruce flopped down on an antique sofa and motioned Lex to join him. "We need to talk about this take-over," he said without other preamble.

"What's to discuss? You're going through with it and I won't stop you, although I am curious as to what you think you're gaining in Grant Tech. It's not an incredibly lucrative LuthorCorp holding, and it won't do more than annoy Dad that you're taking it from him."

His partner shrugged. "I think I can make something of that little company."

"Really?" Lex's eyebrow shot up curiously.

Bruce gave him a lazy grin. "Ah, ah, ah, Lex. That would be telling." He grinned wickedly. "And I haven't searched you yet to see if you're wearing a wire."

"Search away."

The other man's grin widened a little bit more. "A tempting offer, very tempting."

"Rain check?"

"Definitely." Bruce leaned in to kiss him--sucking Lex's lower lip into his mouth gently and worrying it with his teeth before settling back into his own place on the sofa. Lex savored the brief kiss and the taste of his lover on his lips. He had a feeling this was going to be a long day, and therefore he needed to take what little he could get and enjoy it.

They went back to discussing the take over of Grant Tech, Bruce steering the conversation away from what he would do with it and towards how he would reclaim it. Lex was impressed. The young businessman had covered all his bases and seemed to be just waiting for the right time to make real his vision. He also understood why Bruce refused to tell him his plans for the smaller company--despite his curiosity over the chosen target in general. It was a smoke screen. The truth was, Lex was almost ready to take on his father... a strategic battle for dominance. Bruce's little acquisitions along the way were doing just what they had intended... drawing attention away from himself.

Lionel believed his son had changed courses, molding himself slowly in his father's image and happy to take a place at his side. But no... while his father was looking to Gotham with wary eyes, Lex was preparing. And when Lionel at last turned his eyes back to Metropolis and his own company, it would no longer be his.

"You're almost ready, then?" Bruce inquired at last. Meaning Lex's own plans, of course.

"Soon, yes. Dad's come to rely on me too much, I'm afraid. After the tornado... his injuries... " Lex couldn't help the slight smirk twitching at his lips. His father had over-taxed himself after returning to Metropolis last year. His doctors had told him to rest and give his injuries time to heal, but he had not. By the time Lex had returned from selling the fertilizer plant, his father was close to being placed on bed rest. But Lex's return had changed that. He'd stood by his father's side, offered a helping hand, whispered lies of confidence and comfort into the elder Luthor's ear. Like Wormtongue slowly poisoning the failing Theoden. A part of Lex--a tiny part of him that remembered and cherished his mother--felt guilty for his actions. But the Luthor in him was always stronger, and Lex didn't need much to remind him of why he was doing this. For himself to be sure--but for the greater good as well. That no one should suffer as Smallville was meant to have suffered. "Even now that he's well, things aren't quite the same."

"No, I don't imagine they are." Bruce sounded pleased. He seemed about to further the discussion when Alfred arrived, announcing that Mr. Kent and his "young companions" had arrived.

"Well, then," Bruce said, springing up from the sofa as if rejuvenated from their all-to-brief respite. "Let's welcome our guests, shall we?"

*L*E*X*

"Our guests" turned out to be not only Jonathan and Clark Kent, but Chloe Sullivan, Lana Lang and Pete Ross. Alfred had shown them into the main foyer and then gone to fetch Bruce and Lex from the library. By the time the two young billionaires had arrived, the teens were looking about the foyer in awe. Pete had ascended the stairs and stood on the overlooking balcony, looking down on his friends.

"Dude!" Lex heard Pete exclaim as he came back down the stair at a run. "The is awesome. It's bigger than Lex Luthor's even." Lex and Bruce exchanged rueful glances and each smothered a chuckle.

"You'd better be careful not to let him hear you say it, Mr. Ross," Lex commented dryly as he and Bruce stepped into the door from a side door. The reaction was priceless: the young man jumped higher than any man Lex could have imagined anyone jumping. Beside Lex, Bruce openly laughed now.

"Lex!" Clark exclaimed, spinning around to face his friend. "What are you doing here?" The boy looked genuinely pleased, if surprised, to see his friend.

"I imagine the same thing as your father, Clark--business with Mr. Wayne." He nodded in deference to Jonathan Kent, smiling. "What about the rest of you? Nothing better to do now that school's out?"

Not surprisingly, Clark Kent flushed slightly, looking awkward. It was Pete who answered. "Start of summer road trip, man," the youth said. "Chloe's got another writing gig in Metropolis this summer--"

"Internship at the Daily Planet," the tiny blonde corrected, smacking her friend playfully.

"Internship at the Daily Planet," Pete echoed sarcastically, rubbing his arm as if injured by her mock-attack. "I've got football camp in two weeks, and Clark 'n Lana..."

"The Talon and the farm will be keeping them busy, I assume?" Lex supplemented.

"Right. So our folks and Nell let us tag along with Mr. Kent. Sweet deal." The teen was grinning.

Yeah, my Dad sent me out here for the summer, too, Lex thought wryly. That *was* what he'd meant by Lex not coming back until he'd put a stop to the attempted take-over, right? Were Lex to take the words seriously, it would be an open invitation to stay forever, since there was no way in hell he was standing in Bruce's way.

"Well, it sounds like busy summers for each of you. I certainly hope you enjoy yourselves this weekend," interjected Bruce. "If there's anything you need, or want, just ask."

"That's really nice of you," Jonathan Kent began to say. "But the kids and I--"

"Are my guests, Mr. Kent. I'd be a poor host if I didn't see to your happiness." There was logic Lex couldn't argue with, and he was certain neither could the farmer.

"We really can't have Bruce considered a poor host, now can we?" he interjected before the older man would object further. "Think of how it will look, if on the eve of the big Historical Society party, his personal guests went lacking. Shameful."

"I'll tell you what..." Bruce said, laughing as he prepared to bargain with Clark's father. "Why don't I have Alfred give Clark and his friends the nickel tour of the grounds while we discuss our business? We can meet back up for lunch at the pool house, and take it from there."

Lex could see the farmer's resolve waning, and knew he would cave to Bruce's simple request.

"Pool?" Pete and Clark echoed as one.

Bruce grinned at the two boys, pointing across the winding drive to one of the smaller cottages on the property. "Yeah. It's bigger than Lex's, too."

Lex made a mental note to call Bruce on this sudden bout of one-upsmanship. Bigger than Lex's, indeed, he thought with a snort, casting a glaring look at his friend. They'd see whose was bigger, Lex vowed wickedly.