"Nothing seemed true;

 I felt surrounded by cardboard scenery

which could quickly be removed…."

-Sartre

Clark had run the whole way to the manor at super-speed, feeling reckless and elated. Rationally, he knew everything wasn't perfect but tonight it felt like none of that mattered. All that did was that there was a weekend ahead of him, and before long there would be the summer, and among it all there would undoubtedly be new complications and new 'adventures' along the typical Smallville lines, but through it all, as a wonderful constant would be Lex. Lex, who now knew everything about him and in return had allowed himself to believe that he could be loved selflessly in return. There would be so many happy times…Starting with tonight. Tonight he was in the mood for anything…

  His heart sunk the second he let himself in through the front door. It was too dark in here, even for the manor. But the door had been open -Lex must be here…

 For a strange second he recalled the time they'd been skulking around the house after the apparent 'ghost' had made its presence felt. Back to reality though, while still trying to keep a calm expression, he couldn't help but feel something was off…But he thought he saw a dim glow of light coming from under the door in the study. He made his way over, his smile coming back uncertainly, his footsteps sounding too loud in the empty house.

"Lex?" he called, pushing the door open.

His eyes went wide at what he saw.

"Clark, I'm okay, don't-" But he was at Lex's side in a heartbeat, falling to his knees beside where he was sitting up, propped against the one of the legs of his desk.

"Oh my god your face…" Clark whispered, gently reaching out to force Lex to look at him. One eye was swelling up, one side of his face was red, his cheekbone already bruising, and his bottom lip cut open.

Lex winced as his hand brushed his cheek.

"Not the most comforting reaction Clark." He tried to keep his tone light, but it hurt to move his jaw too much, and his words came out slowly and painfully.

"Who did this?"

Lex tried to laugh but that too, hurt like hell.

"Someone whose self-control I overestimated."

"Lex…" Clark's voice was soft and so full of concern. There were tears of disbelief in his eyes. He never thought he could be so scared for anything or anybody in his life. He could tell he was trying to be brave, keep it light, but there was something in his eyes, that eventually gave in.

"I'm really glad you're here…" Lex said thickly, unable to believe how safe he felt in this boy's presence.

"Don't ever leave me okay?" he said suddenly.

Clark sat, moved and amazed at the courage he'd needed to say that.

"I'm right here Lex." He said quietly. "I'm right here…"

~ ~ ~

"I'm going to kill him."

The worst thing was that Lex could really see something there in his eyes. Clark had said nothing while he'd told the story quickly and half-disbelievingly. He hadn't expected such an intense reaction as this.  He spoke steadily to the pacing boy before him.

"Clark-"

"He's your father, he can't do this to you!"

"Well he just did!" He cringed at the pain in his jaw at yelling, and sighed, serious and quiet. "He's never done it before and he'll never do it again. Trust me on this….its alright. He hit me with his fists, I hit him with a few home truths. Both were a long time coming, but despite appearances, he didn't win today."

They sat in silence for a second, Clark's head bowed as he ran his fingers through his hair. For the tenth time he said "We need to get you to a doctor."

"I'll survive, really…" Lex muttered. "Its painful but it's just bruising."

"Lex-"

"I really don't like hospitals Clark." That, at least, should be something the alien before him could understand.

"Then can't I at least call-"

"No Clark, we agreed that his service would never be required again." He tried to smile. "Seriously, I'm fine... Now please just…just help me stand up so I can go upstairs and clean myself up…"

Clark looked down with him eyes filled with aching pity, love and frustration.

"You're so much stronger than I am" he said to Lex quietly. As much as he put on this act of bravado, there really was some innate strength in him that tried to battle through life. He didn't know where he himself would be if he hadn't been taken into a loving home. And he couldn't imagine things ever being so bad with his dad that things would come to this. Without your parents you were…lost.

But Lex just gave a small dismissive grin.

"Yeah, well, that's a shame since I could really do with the man of steel here lending me a hand."

Too saddened to be really amused, Clark took his outstretched hand, and supporting him, all the time wondering what the chances were that he might have concussion or something, he started to help him get up.

 As Lex stood, the movement made him give a short cry out as pain shot across his ribs.

"Jesus that guy works out" Lex muttered.

"Take it slow okay?" Clark said. "You sure you don't feel dizzy?"

But before he could nag Lex any more, a movement at the door made his eyes go wide in surprise at his father standing there and looking back breathlessly.

"My God Clark" he said. "What happened here?"

TBC.