Author's Note: Thank you all for the very kind reviews. I hope you
continue to enjoy where this goes because there are times when it surprises
me too! ; )
Thank you LaCasta for keeping me on the straight and narrow. You have encouraged me to continue this despite my inexperience.
Well to continue where I left off last chapter...
Chapter 6
Clark approached Lex tentatively, mildly shocked by his friend's sudden vulnerability. Lex was strong, smooth, always in control. Wasn't he? Reaching out a hand he touched Lex's shoulder softly. Lex inhaled as if startled and immediately the look was gone. He smirked at Clark but the confidence did not shine in his eyes. Clark suppressed the urge to comfort him knowing this was not the time to let Lex know his facade was not working.
"We beat him at his own game, Lex. I think we should be celebrating."
"Much as I normally wouldn't pass on a chance to celebrate something, we might be a bit premature." Lex's tone was flat. He walked slowly to the window, looking out at the darkening sky. "Or at least, you can go home and celebrate. I don't think my father will bother your family. I don't think he needs to open this up to a larger audience. He's right to keep it between us and I'd be right to do that too. Go home, Clark. Get a good night's sleep and start new tomorrow. Tomorrow's the Farmer's Market, right?"
Clark drew his eyebrows together, tilting his head. What was going on? "Yeah..."
"Well, you'll need to be up early. I'm sure you have a busy day. Say 'Hi' to your friends for me."
"Lex!"
"Look, Clark. You've been pulled into something you shouldn't have. Right now the door is open to get out while you can. I suggest you take this opportunity. It may not come again so easily."
Pulled into something? Clark almost laughed at the understatement. "I'm here now and I don't normally back down that easily. How can you think I'll walk away now? You're my best friend. I've done more for people I don't even know." Clark was beginning to feel exasperated.
"You're too smart to get caught up in this. You happened into the wrong place at the wrong time and my father used you to make a point. I got the point and I'm surprised you didn't." Lex's voice was almost condescending as if trying to offend.
"Lex, if his point is that he can intimidate you then he went further than neccessary to prove it." Clark was only now realising the extent of Lex's physical vulnerability.
"No, Clark. I think the point is more that I can't fight him and have people that I care about, people that he can hurt, in my life. My father wrote the book on ruthless."
"What about if he hurts you?" Clark's voice was almost a whisper, surprised his stomach ached with the thought. Lex paused a moment and Clark began to wonder about Lex's childhood. He'd x-rayed Lex before and noted a number of old injuries but had always assumed they were from sports.
"Ancient history, Clark."
"Is the blood on your lip ancient history, too?"
Lex brought a hand up quickly and wiped at the side of his mouth with long fingers looking at his hand and registering mild surprise to find blood. Clark watched this action with a surge of protectiveness. Lex had never looked delicate before, having a strong wirey frame and attitude to spare but now he looked delicate. No, fragile was the word. Like his skin held together by will alone and that if Lex let down his guard he'd bleed from a million cracks and fissures. Clark walked forward and took the hand with the small smear of blood, holding it palm up as if to read the future. Lex looked up and his blue eyes shone with a hint of moisture. He blinked once and it was gone. Looking into Clark's eyes, studying his features he seemed to be searching for something. He did not appear to find it and looked down again, appearing to study Clark's chest.
Lex sighed in defeat. "Go home, Clark." He pulled his hand slowly from Clark's and turned once again to look out the dark window. The low light from the window softened his features though his jaw was tight.
Clark's sixteen year old uncertainty returned in full force. He wanted to argue but didn't know how. He wanted to hold Lex and make the scary world go away. He wanted to beat the crap out of Lionel Luthor for making Lex look like this. He wanted to run home and have his parents protect him.
The last thought made him stop. How had Lex grown up without being able to think that last thought? He could protect Lex physically but Lionel Luthor did not work in the physical world alone. He could not be with Lex all the time to shield him and he could not risk exposure of his secret, particularly to Lionel Luthor. Clark did not know what to do. He reached out again to place his hand on Lex's shoulder but Lex rolled it, shrugging him off. Lex looked again into Clark's eyes but they were no longer searching and no longer unsure. "Goodbye, Clark."
Clark walked backwards a few steps, not taking his eyes from Lex. His chest was starting to feel tight. Breathing was hard. He'd take some time to think. Hanging his head, he walked out the door. "I'll see you later, Lex."
Thank you LaCasta for keeping me on the straight and narrow. You have encouraged me to continue this despite my inexperience.
Well to continue where I left off last chapter...
Chapter 6
Clark approached Lex tentatively, mildly shocked by his friend's sudden vulnerability. Lex was strong, smooth, always in control. Wasn't he? Reaching out a hand he touched Lex's shoulder softly. Lex inhaled as if startled and immediately the look was gone. He smirked at Clark but the confidence did not shine in his eyes. Clark suppressed the urge to comfort him knowing this was not the time to let Lex know his facade was not working.
"We beat him at his own game, Lex. I think we should be celebrating."
"Much as I normally wouldn't pass on a chance to celebrate something, we might be a bit premature." Lex's tone was flat. He walked slowly to the window, looking out at the darkening sky. "Or at least, you can go home and celebrate. I don't think my father will bother your family. I don't think he needs to open this up to a larger audience. He's right to keep it between us and I'd be right to do that too. Go home, Clark. Get a good night's sleep and start new tomorrow. Tomorrow's the Farmer's Market, right?"
Clark drew his eyebrows together, tilting his head. What was going on? "Yeah..."
"Well, you'll need to be up early. I'm sure you have a busy day. Say 'Hi' to your friends for me."
"Lex!"
"Look, Clark. You've been pulled into something you shouldn't have. Right now the door is open to get out while you can. I suggest you take this opportunity. It may not come again so easily."
Pulled into something? Clark almost laughed at the understatement. "I'm here now and I don't normally back down that easily. How can you think I'll walk away now? You're my best friend. I've done more for people I don't even know." Clark was beginning to feel exasperated.
"You're too smart to get caught up in this. You happened into the wrong place at the wrong time and my father used you to make a point. I got the point and I'm surprised you didn't." Lex's voice was almost condescending as if trying to offend.
"Lex, if his point is that he can intimidate you then he went further than neccessary to prove it." Clark was only now realising the extent of Lex's physical vulnerability.
"No, Clark. I think the point is more that I can't fight him and have people that I care about, people that he can hurt, in my life. My father wrote the book on ruthless."
"What about if he hurts you?" Clark's voice was almost a whisper, surprised his stomach ached with the thought. Lex paused a moment and Clark began to wonder about Lex's childhood. He'd x-rayed Lex before and noted a number of old injuries but had always assumed they were from sports.
"Ancient history, Clark."
"Is the blood on your lip ancient history, too?"
Lex brought a hand up quickly and wiped at the side of his mouth with long fingers looking at his hand and registering mild surprise to find blood. Clark watched this action with a surge of protectiveness. Lex had never looked delicate before, having a strong wirey frame and attitude to spare but now he looked delicate. No, fragile was the word. Like his skin held together by will alone and that if Lex let down his guard he'd bleed from a million cracks and fissures. Clark walked forward and took the hand with the small smear of blood, holding it palm up as if to read the future. Lex looked up and his blue eyes shone with a hint of moisture. He blinked once and it was gone. Looking into Clark's eyes, studying his features he seemed to be searching for something. He did not appear to find it and looked down again, appearing to study Clark's chest.
Lex sighed in defeat. "Go home, Clark." He pulled his hand slowly from Clark's and turned once again to look out the dark window. The low light from the window softened his features though his jaw was tight.
Clark's sixteen year old uncertainty returned in full force. He wanted to argue but didn't know how. He wanted to hold Lex and make the scary world go away. He wanted to beat the crap out of Lionel Luthor for making Lex look like this. He wanted to run home and have his parents protect him.
The last thought made him stop. How had Lex grown up without being able to think that last thought? He could protect Lex physically but Lionel Luthor did not work in the physical world alone. He could not be with Lex all the time to shield him and he could not risk exposure of his secret, particularly to Lionel Luthor. Clark did not know what to do. He reached out again to place his hand on Lex's shoulder but Lex rolled it, shrugging him off. Lex looked again into Clark's eyes but they were no longer searching and no longer unsure. "Goodbye, Clark."
Clark walked backwards a few steps, not taking his eyes from Lex. His chest was starting to feel tight. Breathing was hard. He'd take some time to think. Hanging his head, he walked out the door. "I'll see you later, Lex."