Chapter 12
Lex woke to brightness on the inside of his eyelids. Opening one eye slightly, he noted that brilliant sunshine was warming his face from a window set in a yellow painted wall. Lex did not like yellow. Cheerful colours had no place in a room for sleeping. Darkness was necessary and he'd fire whoever forgot it and opened the curtain in his room. Slowly it dawned on him that he did not have a room with yellow walls. He opened both eyes, groaning slightly at the brightness and shifted to turn his head away. This caused a slight ache in his side. Oh yes, bruising, how could he forget but he did feel much better. Smiling to himself he remembered how he got here. This was Clark's room, apallingly wholesome in all ways. Not even a sleezy picture of Britney Spears on the wall. Constellations. Maybe Clark did look at more than Lana Lang through that telescope.
Lex put his hands down to push himself into a sitting position and stopped short when he touched someone's head. Looking down he saw Clark Kent half sitting and half sprawled across a wooden chair pulled next to the bed. Part of his chest, one arm, and his head were on the bed. Clark's breathing was even and Lex could see half his face in innocent slumber. Dark lashes against slightly flushed cheeks coloured a handsome profile. Clark Kent should've been illegal... well, actually, he was.
Lex could not resist the urge to run his fingers lightly through the silken hair. He'd wanted to touch it in a few fantasies but had suppressed those as quickly as possible. Lex had learned not to hope for the impossible. He also knew to recognise a rare opportunity. He decided to indulge, realising that he'd been doing just that since coming to the Kents yesterday. He needed to do Pete Ross a favour for bringing him here.
Lex pulled his hand back as Clark stirred, opening his eyes slowly and giving Lex a warm smile.
"Good morning." Lex responded with a slower smile unsure of his reception from Clark but encouraged by his presense. This would be awkward.
Clark Kent however, made things easy. "I was so worried about you. Are you all right?"
"Who wouldn't be better after your mother's worked her magic? I'm fine." Sitting forward he tapped his chest with one hand indicating his good health. "I was just overtired. Now that I'm good as new, I should be going." Lex started to get up but Clark held him back on the bed with sudden annoyance.
"You're not going anywhere until we talk. I've been trying to see you. I've been worried sick and you've been hiding. What's with you? I thought we were friends." Clark's voice was becoming louder as all the hurt of the last week came back to him. "You cut me out pretty easily. Does our friendship mean so little to you? Do I?"
"Look, Clark, you know the reason I didn't want you involved. Look at all that's happened. Imagine if this had happened to you. I couldn't live with myself. I needed to protect you and your family. My father was willing to keep you out of things if I did too. If I leave now, we still might keep you and your family out of it."
"You can't keep me out of it. I care about you, Lex." Clark tried to will Lex to see his feelings.
"I care about you too... and your family. That's why I'm doing this. I need you to see it and leave things alone."
"I CAN'T! Lex, I want you to know how I feel about you. It's been killing me not to see you."
"Look, Clark, you have lots of friends. One less is not the end of the world." Lex tried again to get out of bed and end this while he still had the willpower. A beautiful sleep-mussed Clark Kent was not helping.
"It is when it's you." Clark's heart was in his eyes and Lex understood his meaning in a sudden jolt, freezing him in place. God, all he'd ever wanted was in front of him, finally returning his feelings. How could he say no? He reached out to put a palm against Clark's cheek and Clark turned to kiss it gently.
"This is not good." Lex said sadly.
Clark pulled back quickly, hurt and embarrassed. He looked at the blanket on the bed and his voice became small. "I know you don't feel the same. I promise I won't mention it again but I still want to be a part of your life. Please Lex, can we still be friends?" Lex was silent for a moment as he again felt a stab of pain at the hurt he was causing. He should tell Clark he didn't care. He could walk away. His damaged soul, questionable past, myriad of secrets did not warrant this. Clark was goodness and innocence and if he left him alone he might stay that way. Lex had tried to be noble but fate had brought him here. He just couldn't turn away.
"God, Clark, I want to be more than friends. I've been in love with you for a long time now, I just don't want to hurt you. Anything to do with me will bring you pain, if not through my actions then through my father's. It's not smart to get involved with me and I should be able to step away."
"Please, Lex?" Clark was pleading and Lex knew it was more than he deserved.
Lex was talking more to himself now. "How can I walk away? You are so beautiful and so good. You make me feel that I can be a better person. It's more than I thought I'd ever have."
"Lex, you are a better person than you think you are. If you need me to show you, then you'd be silly to turn away. I on the other hand am not as good as you obviously think. Now shut up and kiss me." Clark bent forward and placed his lips gently on Lex's. His hand moved up slowly to cup the back of Lex's head and Lex sighed in surrender. Soft full lips nipped gently at his and he opened his mouth without thought. Clark's tongue traced his bottom lip, then moved in to touch his own.
"Clark? Breakfast is on and chores can't wait." The voice of Jonathan Kent on the other side of the door, made them jump. Lex hit his head on the headboard and Clark chuckled with happiness.
Rubbing his head and thankful for the return to sanity, Lex looked stern. "We'll talk more later. This is not resolved." Clark beamed as if he hadn't heard a word.
***
Lex sat on the Kent couch and tried to gather his strength. Jonathan had returned and spoken to his wife last night. He'd had lots of time to consider this.
Thank heavens Lex had not been subjected to an inspection of his wounds. Jonathan Kent sat across from him. He smelled faintly of the barn, his weathered but still handsome face was unreadable as he studied Lex in silence. Lex did not squirm; that had been drummed out of him a long time ago. He met Jonathan's look as evenly as if they were about to discuss the weather.
Finally, Jonathan broke the silence. "Do you want to tell me about this?"
Lex smiled ruefully, turning on his most charming smile. "Only if I have to." Jonathan looked at Lex with mild disgust and sorrow. Lex sighed with resignation, seeing no reprieve. "This is a message from my father. I am expected to return to Metropolis and to his control. I've been removed from my position at the Smallville plant to give me no place else to go. This was merely proof that I have no protection without him."
"How did it happen?"
"An old enemy took revenge." Lex put up a hand to stop the next question. "No, I never injured him but I humiliated him. He caught me alone and with a little help from two thugs made his point painfully well, making sure to give me my father's regards."
"Are you saying your father sent them to beat you?" Scepticism, thy name is Jonathan Kent.
"No, my father let it be known that he would not retaliate. Possibly even hinted at rewards for helping me see the error of my ways. Seeing that the gentleman, and I use the term loosely, who did this will take over my position at the plant, I'd say my guess was pretty accurate." Lex looked defeated. Jonathan took note of the exhaustion in the set of Lex's shoulders. He was unmoved.
"I've dealt with your father in the past. I admit it's made me doubt your true character. The fact that you are injured on my doorstep does not change that. It does however, give you a chance to convince me that my son will not be hurt because of his association with you."
OK, no pulled punches today. Lex decided to return the favour. "I can't guarantee that. You've probably noticed I've tried to distance myself recently. I'm sure Clark told you that my father threatened him."
A very quiet pause followed this. Jonathan Kent had pursed his lips. "How about you give me your version?" His fists tightened but his temper was firmly in check.
Lex shifted in discomfort, mental as well as physical. The guilt of having involved Clark once again overwhelmed him. "I think I'm going to need a drink to get through this one." Jonathan frowned in disapproval and poured Lex a glass of water. Lex accepted it with a wry smile. Jonathan Kent was not giving an inch. Lex acknowledged a losing battle and decided that the full story would be best. "Clark came to deliver produce when I was not home and my father was there. He was in a rage and took it out on Clark. Threatening him and your family because of his friendship with me." Lex could only look at the glass in his hand.
Jonathan felt as if his nightmares were coming true. Threats to Clark and his family struck deep. Lex's confirmation of Clark's story to Martha made it real. He moved to look out the window and compose himself. This farm would always ground him. He turned and sat back down opposite Lex. "You'd best give me all the details and so help me, Lex, if I find out you've misled me in any way this beating will look like a minor injury."
Lex again made direct eye contact. "I know you don't believe me but I would never do anything to hurt Clark or your family."
"Just tell me the truth." Jonathan was unforgiving. Lex gripped the glass like a lifeline and told him everything. Everything but what was in his heart.
Lex woke to brightness on the inside of his eyelids. Opening one eye slightly, he noted that brilliant sunshine was warming his face from a window set in a yellow painted wall. Lex did not like yellow. Cheerful colours had no place in a room for sleeping. Darkness was necessary and he'd fire whoever forgot it and opened the curtain in his room. Slowly it dawned on him that he did not have a room with yellow walls. He opened both eyes, groaning slightly at the brightness and shifted to turn his head away. This caused a slight ache in his side. Oh yes, bruising, how could he forget but he did feel much better. Smiling to himself he remembered how he got here. This was Clark's room, apallingly wholesome in all ways. Not even a sleezy picture of Britney Spears on the wall. Constellations. Maybe Clark did look at more than Lana Lang through that telescope.
Lex put his hands down to push himself into a sitting position and stopped short when he touched someone's head. Looking down he saw Clark Kent half sitting and half sprawled across a wooden chair pulled next to the bed. Part of his chest, one arm, and his head were on the bed. Clark's breathing was even and Lex could see half his face in innocent slumber. Dark lashes against slightly flushed cheeks coloured a handsome profile. Clark Kent should've been illegal... well, actually, he was.
Lex could not resist the urge to run his fingers lightly through the silken hair. He'd wanted to touch it in a few fantasies but had suppressed those as quickly as possible. Lex had learned not to hope for the impossible. He also knew to recognise a rare opportunity. He decided to indulge, realising that he'd been doing just that since coming to the Kents yesterday. He needed to do Pete Ross a favour for bringing him here.
Lex pulled his hand back as Clark stirred, opening his eyes slowly and giving Lex a warm smile.
"Good morning." Lex responded with a slower smile unsure of his reception from Clark but encouraged by his presense. This would be awkward.
Clark Kent however, made things easy. "I was so worried about you. Are you all right?"
"Who wouldn't be better after your mother's worked her magic? I'm fine." Sitting forward he tapped his chest with one hand indicating his good health. "I was just overtired. Now that I'm good as new, I should be going." Lex started to get up but Clark held him back on the bed with sudden annoyance.
"You're not going anywhere until we talk. I've been trying to see you. I've been worried sick and you've been hiding. What's with you? I thought we were friends." Clark's voice was becoming louder as all the hurt of the last week came back to him. "You cut me out pretty easily. Does our friendship mean so little to you? Do I?"
"Look, Clark, you know the reason I didn't want you involved. Look at all that's happened. Imagine if this had happened to you. I couldn't live with myself. I needed to protect you and your family. My father was willing to keep you out of things if I did too. If I leave now, we still might keep you and your family out of it."
"You can't keep me out of it. I care about you, Lex." Clark tried to will Lex to see his feelings.
"I care about you too... and your family. That's why I'm doing this. I need you to see it and leave things alone."
"I CAN'T! Lex, I want you to know how I feel about you. It's been killing me not to see you."
"Look, Clark, you have lots of friends. One less is not the end of the world." Lex tried again to get out of bed and end this while he still had the willpower. A beautiful sleep-mussed Clark Kent was not helping.
"It is when it's you." Clark's heart was in his eyes and Lex understood his meaning in a sudden jolt, freezing him in place. God, all he'd ever wanted was in front of him, finally returning his feelings. How could he say no? He reached out to put a palm against Clark's cheek and Clark turned to kiss it gently.
"This is not good." Lex said sadly.
Clark pulled back quickly, hurt and embarrassed. He looked at the blanket on the bed and his voice became small. "I know you don't feel the same. I promise I won't mention it again but I still want to be a part of your life. Please Lex, can we still be friends?" Lex was silent for a moment as he again felt a stab of pain at the hurt he was causing. He should tell Clark he didn't care. He could walk away. His damaged soul, questionable past, myriad of secrets did not warrant this. Clark was goodness and innocence and if he left him alone he might stay that way. Lex had tried to be noble but fate had brought him here. He just couldn't turn away.
"God, Clark, I want to be more than friends. I've been in love with you for a long time now, I just don't want to hurt you. Anything to do with me will bring you pain, if not through my actions then through my father's. It's not smart to get involved with me and I should be able to step away."
"Please, Lex?" Clark was pleading and Lex knew it was more than he deserved.
Lex was talking more to himself now. "How can I walk away? You are so beautiful and so good. You make me feel that I can be a better person. It's more than I thought I'd ever have."
"Lex, you are a better person than you think you are. If you need me to show you, then you'd be silly to turn away. I on the other hand am not as good as you obviously think. Now shut up and kiss me." Clark bent forward and placed his lips gently on Lex's. His hand moved up slowly to cup the back of Lex's head and Lex sighed in surrender. Soft full lips nipped gently at his and he opened his mouth without thought. Clark's tongue traced his bottom lip, then moved in to touch his own.
"Clark? Breakfast is on and chores can't wait." The voice of Jonathan Kent on the other side of the door, made them jump. Lex hit his head on the headboard and Clark chuckled with happiness.
Rubbing his head and thankful for the return to sanity, Lex looked stern. "We'll talk more later. This is not resolved." Clark beamed as if he hadn't heard a word.
***
Lex sat on the Kent couch and tried to gather his strength. Jonathan had returned and spoken to his wife last night. He'd had lots of time to consider this.
Thank heavens Lex had not been subjected to an inspection of his wounds. Jonathan Kent sat across from him. He smelled faintly of the barn, his weathered but still handsome face was unreadable as he studied Lex in silence. Lex did not squirm; that had been drummed out of him a long time ago. He met Jonathan's look as evenly as if they were about to discuss the weather.
Finally, Jonathan broke the silence. "Do you want to tell me about this?"
Lex smiled ruefully, turning on his most charming smile. "Only if I have to." Jonathan looked at Lex with mild disgust and sorrow. Lex sighed with resignation, seeing no reprieve. "This is a message from my father. I am expected to return to Metropolis and to his control. I've been removed from my position at the Smallville plant to give me no place else to go. This was merely proof that I have no protection without him."
"How did it happen?"
"An old enemy took revenge." Lex put up a hand to stop the next question. "No, I never injured him but I humiliated him. He caught me alone and with a little help from two thugs made his point painfully well, making sure to give me my father's regards."
"Are you saying your father sent them to beat you?" Scepticism, thy name is Jonathan Kent.
"No, my father let it be known that he would not retaliate. Possibly even hinted at rewards for helping me see the error of my ways. Seeing that the gentleman, and I use the term loosely, who did this will take over my position at the plant, I'd say my guess was pretty accurate." Lex looked defeated. Jonathan took note of the exhaustion in the set of Lex's shoulders. He was unmoved.
"I've dealt with your father in the past. I admit it's made me doubt your true character. The fact that you are injured on my doorstep does not change that. It does however, give you a chance to convince me that my son will not be hurt because of his association with you."
OK, no pulled punches today. Lex decided to return the favour. "I can't guarantee that. You've probably noticed I've tried to distance myself recently. I'm sure Clark told you that my father threatened him."
A very quiet pause followed this. Jonathan Kent had pursed his lips. "How about you give me your version?" His fists tightened but his temper was firmly in check.
Lex shifted in discomfort, mental as well as physical. The guilt of having involved Clark once again overwhelmed him. "I think I'm going to need a drink to get through this one." Jonathan frowned in disapproval and poured Lex a glass of water. Lex accepted it with a wry smile. Jonathan Kent was not giving an inch. Lex acknowledged a losing battle and decided that the full story would be best. "Clark came to deliver produce when I was not home and my father was there. He was in a rage and took it out on Clark. Threatening him and your family because of his friendship with me." Lex could only look at the glass in his hand.
Jonathan felt as if his nightmares were coming true. Threats to Clark and his family struck deep. Lex's confirmation of Clark's story to Martha made it real. He moved to look out the window and compose himself. This farm would always ground him. He turned and sat back down opposite Lex. "You'd best give me all the details and so help me, Lex, if I find out you've misled me in any way this beating will look like a minor injury."
Lex again made direct eye contact. "I know you don't believe me but I would never do anything to hurt Clark or your family."
"Just tell me the truth." Jonathan was unforgiving. Lex gripped the glass like a lifeline and told him everything. Everything but what was in his heart.