Lex poured himself a large scotch, and stared at it for a while. Screw Clark anyway. Who needs this aggravation. Why does he think the world owes him everything anyway? Why did every single conflict have to end with everyone else apologizing to Clark? Did he think he was worth that much just because he had those cheekbones and pouty lips and -

And screw that entire train of thought.

Seriously, not worth the aggravation. His father had always told him friends weren't worth the risk, and he'd thought that was just the paranoia of a man who had too much to hide. Lionel was right, though; it wasn't worth it.

Lex looked at his glass and looked at the fireplace and tried to decide whether throwing his drink at the fireplace would be an overly dramatic gesture.

Deciding it wasn't overly dramatic as long as no one was watching, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Clark lurking in the doorway.

"Um... hi," Clark murmured.

"What's up, Clark? Do you have more keys to my house you forgot?"

Clark was failing to look casual by leaning against the doorway. "No, I, well, I came to say you were right, I shouldn't have listened to Lionel. I shouldn't have taken the key. I still think you should have told me about whatever you're doing in that room, but I didn't have any right to sneak in."

Was this Clark apologizing? Lex restrained himself from making a show of cleaning his ears. Sarcasm was tempting, but it wasn't really going to help. "So do you believe me?" he asked. "That I'm only looking into my own background?"

"I'm not sure," said Clark, looking at the floor. "I know you've been talking about it. But so much of what's in that room relates directly to me, I'm still not sure."

"Clark, you know I've had more than one chance to find everything out, and I chose not to. I decided a long time ago that whatever you're not telling me, you must have a good reason..." Lex shook his head slightly, showing his puzzlement. "...Or at least what seems to you like a good reason. So I have to be satisfied with that, just like you should have been satisfied that I had that room locked for a good reason. Or what seemed to me like a good reason." He caught Clark's eye at that, and they both smiled.

Clark relaxed a little, but he kept his arms folded as he came all the way into the room. Defensive body language. Well, at least he wasn't on the attack this time. "So..." he said, "you know how sometimes you find things out and then realize you were happier not knowing them?"

"Obviously I do," said Lex.

Clark grimaced. "Yeah, I guess so. Well, I have one of those things, where if I tell you you'll wish I hadn't. The only other person I've told has been Pete, and he was mad at me for a week. And since then, people have tried to beat it out of him twice; you saw what happened last time."

"So you don't want to put more people in danger. Or piss them off," said Lex. Clark nodded. "And are you telling me this because you're about to tell me everything, or are you explaining why you're not going to tell me anything?"

"I ... haven't decided yet," said Clark.

"Then can you come back when you decide? I have a lot to do to get ready for the trial - "

"I came to Earth with the meteors," said Clark.

"... what?"