There are several universal truths; no matter how many times one would run from them, they would appear, for they were the truth. There are truths perceived by a person, truths that were true, but none of them applied to everything that lived or died on the Earth.
Lex Luthor was no stranger to them. He had designed them, giving an official name to them when he was thirteen. Unfortunately he had still been naïve and it was his father who had taken the credit for them. He had published them in his biography and was considered one of the great philosophers of his time. No one knew he hadn't created them.
There had been eight rules and the first one was the one that applied today, as he stood in front of his father's jail cell,
Humans are ultimately evil. They can deny that they are not, but they are the only species in the world that would purposely wreck another one of their species life for no survival reasons.His father was lying on the cot in the corner of the room, the blanket to keep him warmed thrown at his feet as he shivered. He appeared to be sleeping but his eyes were wide open, staring up at the ceiling. Their usual glimmer of ice upon the brown surface seemed to be melting. He was a man defeated.
It made Lex feel superior for once in his life, but he didn't feel happy. He felt disgusted at the sight that awaited his eyes. His father deserved this, and his father wasn't the man to give into his fate. That had broke rule number seven in the universal truths.
Once a man succumbs to his fate, then will he fall. To succeed, you must never accept where you are, and go for the heavens in your goals. Your destiny is your own to control, no one can ever tell you who you are. Only you do that…"Get up, Father…" he ordered, feeling no need for witty banter. His father finally looked up at him which was the first time after the first words he had said to his son, then ignored him for the next hour as Lex went out to do some work around the prison without telling his father what his devious plans were.
He waited until his father reached the bars of the jail and he raised his hand to put it against his father's on the wiring before he spoke.
"You didn't want to die in jail. We both know that is true but you just hate being confined. I will make you an offer, will you hear me out?" Lex couldn't help feeling like he was making a deal with the devil but he had no choice. He was going on instincts to get him what he craved to know.
"Talk, " the smile had reached his father's eyes, and he looked alive again. It was sad in a sense that he was only happy when he was making a business deal, thinking of ways to dupe people out what he wanted.
"You have three weeks to live, the doctors estimate when I went over your files. Your trial would have yet to begin at that point. So here is the deal, I will take the money out of your private funds to pay your bail then I will send you to live in Cancun for as long as you continue living. All your private funds will be at your disposal but none of the money raised by Luthor Corp, or my private funds. You will not interfere with my life, and you shall die a fulfilled man, hopefully."
"What's the price, then?"
"Clark Kent, I want you to tell me his secret."
"He's an alien."
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He watched the sun fall out of the sky, streaking the clouds with blood, and then it dried to turn into dark scabs. A daily routine it was for him to stare out into the sky and wonder where his birth parents were, even though his perception of them had changed over the years.
Stairs were vibrating, someone was walking up them. He could feel the pulsing even before their foot touched the wood and made a noise. His powers were getting stronger every day, he found it harder and harder to know what was a normal person's ability to do something.
"Son, you okay up there?" his father said calmly as he walked up. He had gotten used to the abilities pretty well, he just assumed Clark knew he was coming, which was almost always the case except for the time he walked in with him and Alicia making out. That hadn't been fun to explain.
"Yeah, just thinking…" his father sat down beside him on the couch and Clark spun around to face his father, leaning against the windowsill.
His father was waiting to hear it was about, his father had fallen into the pattern of having a super being as a son and though Clark was not psychic nor was his father, they had a basic understanding of what each other would say.
"Why did you trust Lionel that day? You hate him but you allowed him to get me adopted from you guys. I just been wondering how it happened that way, and why hasn't Lionel spilled his mouth about that?" Clark watched his father's expression change from hatred to just weariness, then to fall into a friendly smirk.
"I don't know why I trusted him that day. Even then, I didn't like him but it felt right. He had the power to do something for me…and for once, I decided to take it instead of struggling."
"Why does he never mention it? Couldn't he use it to help find out my secret?"
"Your mother is the only reason he has yet to tell. They went to school together, and she was one of the only students who was kind to him for no other reason then just for kindness sake. I think that in a way, it was a thank you to her. Plus he knew she always wanted a son, but couldn't conceive."
"Why do you hate Lionel?"
"Hate is a strong word."
"But you do…you certainly don't like him."
"I don't like the things he does, it doesn't mean that I don't have respect for the man."
Clark sighed, seeing that he wasn't going to win the argument, and began to walk down the stairs, his father quickly following him, in a silent procession brought on by their stomach's for the kitchen where diner await, wafting delicious smells over to the barn.
He had started upon his second serving of mashed potatoes, when he heard a noise way off far into the distance. He had began to hear them a few days ago, and he would run around, trying to find them. He soon realized he could hear in the silence, about in a two mile radius, the noises that organisms made.
The noise was reminiscent of a scream, and he stood up, pushing in his chair, and walked for the front door. His parents didn't ask him where he was going, they knew he could hear things they couldn't, and just assumed he was off to save someone, and it wasn't important enough to question him on it when someone could be dying while they were chatting.
He turned up the full speed, arriving within the edge of the two-mile radius within seconds. Again, his speed was improving, he could go as fast as sound in the beginning, and he was beginning to go at the speed of light now.
The scream was louder and he went to the sound of it, closing his eyes as he sped through the rows of wheat, watching the fast moving shapes blur around him as he saw the little girl, slowly going under in the stream, as she screamed for dear life, as the current began to wash her further and further away from the bridge Clark was standing on.
If Clark was paying more attention, he would have noted it was the same bridge on in which he had met Lex upon, but he was too busy diving twenty feet off the bridge into the water, to try and catch the girl floating away from him.
He was unaware of the telescope which was set up, watching his every move, as he grabbed the girl who was bleeding, a bicycle tangled around her limbs, blood constantly being wiped off by the water to only reappear again. He tore the bicycle into several pieces and threw them upon the bank as he pulled her out, laying her on the gravel.
Lex watched him from the distance, through the eye of the telescope, as he looked around carefully, before applying his hands against her bleeding wounds. Within seconds, they began to seal up and she began to breathe again, her pale features once turning rosy. Her eyes began to open and Clark held up to his chest, to reassure her that she was okay.
Lex was in shock and gaping, partly at the sight of this cute little girl who had died, just like him to be only reborn by the likes of Clark Kent, and he gasped, a little too loudly because Clark looked right at him. Lex hoped Clark didn't see him as he lay perfectly still against the flat rock he was perched behind, and when Clark had returned his gaze to the girl, Lex scattered off, still in shock.
How can I pretend that I don't see?
What you hide so carelessly
I saw her bleed
You heard me breathe
And I froze inside myself and turned away
I must be dreaming
His entire life had been created of lies, on other lies, which covered the pile of lies that made up the surface of his life. It was hard to say if the things he did say now were even true if they were true, because some many lies could be then tied down to his true statement.
It was like his car, his silver Porsche. He sat in it, staring up the ceiling's lights that filtered in through the huge cut in the windshield where his body had been pulled out of. The front of the car had a dent of a body within it, but never any blood on it though it should have caused more then bruises. Even the speedometer read a solid hundred, with strikes of water under the surface of it from the water infiltrating his pretty car.
This car was all lies, it contained all the truths of his life, and just now revealed to be false what he had honestly knew deep down. Clark Kent had been hit, Clark Kent had ripped open the front of the car, and Clark Kent was lying to him.
We all live, we all die
That doesn't begin to justify you
Lex had known it from the moment he had waken up, and saw the blue sky above him, that this wasn't have supposed to happen. When he had died, he had been flying over Smallville. He had wings in his vision, and he was free of his father's occupation. He was free with his life, and it was the happiest moment of his life. Then he had fell to earth, as his eyes had opened to find emerald eyes looking at his with pure concern.
He should have died, but Clark had saved him. He had seen it the first time he got lost in the labyrinth of Clark's eyes, that this boy was unconfined by destiny. Within the depths, he saw an image of himself, and it made him feel like he could be something in his life.
He had always been getting in trouble since he turned bald. It was like the fates had cursed him, and so internally had strived to kill himself and give up on the future. It held nothing for him but pain. But when the wings had taken flight as he had died, he felt more alive. He would go on and point the sword at destiny and tell it that it wasn't his master anymore. He would do it…Life was too short for him not to live his dreams.
It's not what it seems
Not what you think
The world offered no protection for the bold, and he had found his protection in the young farm boy. He looked at life in a way a child would, so naïve and trusting. But that wasn't true, he was nothing like a child. He was a man who could be so trusting because he had everything to lose, and nothing to gain by pretending.
He had just thought Clark was a product of being in the right place, at the right time, with all his miracles of saving people, but now, he saw it was no common incident. He hadn't been joking when he had mentioned Clark had a Messiah complex. Clark wanted to save the world…
He wondered why Clark could like someone like him, someone who was so cruel and so hated. But now he knew…Clark saw himself in him, and that was why they bound their lives together. Both held power…and power was always drawn to another. They were the opposites, the polar ends of a magnet.
And magnets, nothing could fight the attractions between them…they would always be drawn to each other, no where in the world where they would not try to get to each other.
No, I must be dreaming
It's only in my mind
Not real life
No, I must be dreaming
He didn't want to acknowledge the truth, that Clark wasn't normal. Because now he had to question everything…and so did Clark. Why were they linked together when they were so much alike? They should repeal each other…not gravitate towards one another.
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"Lex! It's so good to hear your voice…" said the grunted voice of his father.
"Are you enjoying your time down there?"
"I'm a big fan of the ladies here."
"You been handing out a lot of money, I bet."
"It never hurts to spend it on worthwhile things."
"I can just picture it now. Lionel Luthor's love child, his secret affair with a whore."
"So I guess you will just have to pay them to shut it up, then."
Lex grunted in response to that, and Lionel laughed. He sounded content, relaxed in a sense.
"Have you discovered all the mysteries of Clark Kent?"
"Much more then I needed to know."
"What are you going to do about him?"
"I don't know…"
"Not knowing will get you killed."
"I don't need to be reminded of that."
"You hold the power in your hand to do something beautiful, don't let it go to waste."
"I wouldn't…but I don't want to hurt him either."
"Ah…the ever emotional sentiment. It doesn't fit you, Lex."
"I'm not you."
"So I have been told."
Help, I know I've got to tell someone
Tell them hat I know you've done
I fear you, but spoken fears can come true
Lex hung up the phone, without saying a good-bye, as his thoughts whirled around his head on a merry-go-round, getting wilder then slowing to pick up again. He groaned, grabbing the bottle of aspirin and pouring a few into his mouth. He swallowed them raw and leaned back in his chair, thinking about his options.
He was ever the businessman, and he had already formed a partial list of pros and cons. He was attempting to be impartial, and take his father's advice on not considering emotions. No, he was going to think of emotions after he found which one was ruling at the current time when he finished his list.
"To be or not to be, that is the question…" he whispered under his breath as he took a sip of his scotch, pondering.
He had gained much information on his best friend, so much in fact that he could fill an entire three shelf filing cabinet with the material and not have any space left and access material. He had found out whom he had saved, and all the weird things that went on to led up to them. It gave him a list of powers he knew Clark had, and he knew which words he had been told were lies or partial truths.
Clark was able to do the things he did because he wasn't known. He was able to save random people at random times because no one questioned it, because they were just relieved that they were okay. He used his aura to keep people off his trial, his aura of innocence and charm.
He had the power to see through people, all his senses were heightened like eyesight and hearing, he could run faster then the speed of light and stop time literally with the speed involved in it, he was super strong, and his blood could heal people. Lex wasn't his father, he knew the blood that made up the reviving potion on the dead had to be Clark's blood. He had seen Clark heal the girl, he must have healing powers within himself to keep from getting hurt. It would be in his blood cells that contained his DNA, which gave him that ability.
Lex saw the opposite side though as well. Clark could kill anyone in the world if he wanted, if he went back onto the red kryptonite. After all, he did that for awhile in the hometown of the Luthor. It didn't go unnoticed by Lex, who was very observant when it came to Clark. If he confronted Clark about it, he could get killed and if he told, he'd get killed too. Clark would do anything to not be a circus spectacle.
It was a great business opportunity though for him, as a CEO of one of the biggest empires in the world, and it would only increase ten-fold if he exposed Clark. He could black-mail Clark to get his blood then develop a cancer drug to save a lot of people or use it to get evidence against a criminal from its dead victim. For the right price, human beings could be immortal. He could have the Fountain of Youth in his very hands.
He could be a tool to take over countries, and his DNA could be cloned to produce mini-him everywhere, to fight for Lex Luthor. There were so many uses for him, and in the end, Lex knew that the bad and good were equally balanced. It came down to what were more important, money and fortune or friendship and love.
Because Lex loved Clark very much…
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We all live, we all die
But that doesn't even begin to justify you
The Tour D'Eiffel, that was what the French called the Eiffel Tower. It was a lot more impressive when one stood at the base of it and looked up at it, in the middle of the night. It was still impressive when one flew over it, whipping around the angles of it on their way soaring through the sky.
To why Clark had came to see the Eiffel Tower, it wasn't why he had came to Paris. It was a certain Lana Lang who was bordering on his mind for the past few days and he felt a need to see her and tell her good-bye. He still felt bad about what had taken place at the airport, and he wanted to make it up to her.
It also helped that he had mastered flying, and he didn't have to pay to use his superpowers of speed and flying. It took him about two hours flying leisurely with short breaks, to get him there.
To say he was tired was an understatement but the lights of Paris, they revived him. They held so much power and beauty and he could understand why people loved to visit the city of the lights. Lana was included in that group of people, and he went through the map he had seen when she was trying to figure out where her host family was located in Paris.
It also came in handy that he had a good memory, and he flew past the landmarks, flying up the apartment she had rented, at the top of the 5th Street complex.
He landed lightly on the windowsill, and peered through, not wanting to catch Lana off guard. He would call her tomorrow and ask to see her. Tonight, he would just be satisfied to see her face.
But when he peered through the window, it wasn't Lana's face he saw first, it was the finely sculpted face of Lex, drinking a cup of coffee, laughing and chatting with Lana who was sitting next to him.
It's not what it seems
He watched as Lana slapped him playfully, and Lex smirked, swiping his coffee back from her grasp. He went to stand up, and Lana's back was to him. All he could see was how close they were to each other, and he couldn't see their lips to know what they were saying.
Between all the noise of Paris and the steel walls, he was able to make up what she was saying.
"Lex, you don't have to hide this anymore. I love you…and…"
He didn't hear Lex's response for she had kissed him, and Clark watched Lex's eyes close quickly, kissing her back, then seconds later, reopening to stare right back at Clark's. Clark didn't even hide his glance, and Lex pushed Lana away and walked out before she could even wipe her lips against her sleeve or say a single word of protest.
Not what you think
"Hello, Clark…" Lex had emerged onto the top floor to embrace Clark glaring at him.
"Why were you kissing Lana?" Clark shot back.
No, I must be dreaming
"I wasn't…it seems she has a crush on me. She kissed me…I just rejected her."
"Why are you here?"
"Another accusation for the master!" Lex chuckled. " I promised I'd visit Lana and I had to get some measurements done, so my new tailor can make me a custom made outfit. So what are you doing here, Clark?"
His face was enough to answer Lex's question. It was blank, his mouth gaping open, having no clue what to say.
"You wanted to apologize to Lana and so you flew over here."
"Yeah, I wanted to say I was sorry…" Clark didn't realize the implication of what he said, until he felt Lex's hand pressing hard into his chest, pressing him against a wall.
"I know who you are, Clark. I know that you aren't human. I know everything…" he hissed, and Clark looked at him with wide eyes. Lex was avoiding them at all costs, he might lose his cool if he looked at them.
It's only in my mind
Not real life
No, I must be dreaming
"What are you talking about, Lex?"
"Don't pretend you don't know, Clark! You should have told me, you should have trusted me! I'm your friend, why did you feel like you couldn't tell me, when I tell you everything. I helped you! Why couldn't you just tell me the truth…why did you have to lie to me?"
Lex's voice was trembling as he finished, tears streaming down his face, and he felt Clark's hands wrap around his wrists that were wrapped around his own throat and pushed, and Lex went flying, skidding onto the gravel on the top of the roof.
Lex looked up at Clark who was scowling at him, and he stood up, brushing the pieces of rock off his shirt.
"I would have told you if I knew you won't betray me…" Clark spit out.
"I wouldn't ever betray you."
"Then why are you here with Lana? You know I love her, but no…Lex has to take whatever he wants!"
Clark sounded so mad and Lex looked at him, trying to draw Clark's eyes to look back at his, capturing the emotion he couldn't express in words.
"She doesn't love you, Clark! You know that, as do I! I am sick of you going after her and she breaking your heart!"
"You just want her for yourself!"
The rain was beginning to pour down, and Clark's hair was getting dragged into his eyes. He looked deadly in the rain, and Lex shivered involuntary.
"I don't want her, I want you, Clark!" Lex yelled, walking closer to Clark and the body heat he seemed to radiate. They were only three feet apart now, and he looked up at Clark.
"You just want me so you can make money, I know how you are…" he spit out.
"I wanted to know those things about you…I couldn't let go of not knowing the truth." Lex was getting frustrated, seeing that Clark wasn't understanding him, or just not even trying.
We all live, we all die
That doesn't even begin to justify you
"You couldn't give up, could you, Lex?" Clark hissed, and Lex stepped closer to him. Their bodies were overlapping and Lex balked in the warmth, wrapping his hands in Clark's hair, threading it between his fingers.
"I can not never give up on the things I love…" Lex whispered, kissing Clark lightly. His lips were so cold, and he pulled away before Clark could react to him or try to hit him. He backed up slowly, trying to get away from Clark's anger.
"You don't understand what the word love means…"
"What does it mean then, Clark?"
"You don't question other people…you don't take advantage of them!"
"I always thought love was just caring that the other person was happy. That's all I have ever tried to do for you."
"Well, I guess you wouldn't understand that, being your father's son and all."
Lex snarled at Clark, and if Clark weren't standing the way he was, his clothes tight to his hard body, Lex would have tried to kill him.
"I am not my father."
"Someday you will be."
"And will you become like your father. You real father, I mean…"
It was now Clark's turn to glare at him, and Lex smirked.
It's not what it seems
Not what you think
I must be dreaming
Just in my mind
Not real life
I must be dreaming