Summary: Lex contemplates his unhappy past and uncertain future when he is taken hostage in an act of revenge against the Luthors.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the lovely characters featured in Smallville—unfortunately!

I also do not own/have not written any of the lyrics or quotes which may appear as credited within this story; intended usage is merely to complement narrative and thematic elements of my original work.

A/N: This takes place somewhere in Season 1 (not very important to the story, just some minor details).

I: Nobody But God

Lex Luthor was furious.

As the soft rain began to stripe the tall windows of his study, he stared through his reflection at the grayness that was outside. His father, not surprisingly, was at it again—this time, however, he had gone too far. Lionel had just relayed the news to him with the requisite lack of humanity:

"I'm foreclosing these leases," he said, dropping four files onto Lex's desk. "I expect you can take care of that by the end of the day."

Lex thumbed through them—ANDERSON, HART, ROBINSON, SMITHWICK. He looked at his father, incredulous. "These are four of the oldest farms in Smallville."

"Unfortunately, they also can't seem to keep up with their payments," Lionel said.

"These families are some of your longest-running employees," Lex said, beginning to fume. "That notwithstanding, I happen to know for a fact that you encouraged each and every one of them to invest all of their earnings in LuthorCorp stock. You knew they wouldn't be able to maintain their leases, and yet you advised them to do it anyway."

"Now, Lex, I never did pretend to be in the charity business," Lionel said with a chuckle. "You know this as well as I do."

Lex shook his head in amazement. "For a supposedly clever businessman, you're never going to get a foothold in this community if you don't start giving people reason to trust you."

"Lex!" Lionel exclaimed, even more amused. "I think we both know I already have a pretty good foothold."

Lex met his father's eyes. "I won't do your dirty work for you, Dad."

Lionel stood for a moment as if to consider this, then raised his eyebrows and turned away. "You know," he said, "the Kents aren't very far from meeting the same type of fate. I'd hate to see such a nice family go under."

Lex removed his tongue from where it had suddenly rolled into his cheek. "Blackmailing your own son... nice touch, Dad."

"You know I can do it, Lex," Lionel said gravely. "Now I know I'm not asking you too much."

Lex looked down into his lap, a resentful smirk twitching the corners of his lips.

"Do you know how the writer Ambrose Bierce once described William Randolph Hearst?" Lionel asked rather abruptly.

Lex continued to stare into his folded hands. "'Nobody but God loves him, and he knows it,'" he recited.

Lionel smiled. "Luthors are not here on this earth to be popular, Son." And with that, he left the room.

Lex shook his head again in disbelief as he rose and went to the window. Though, on the surface, Lionel had included himself in the disparaging analogy, Lex knew deep in his heart that his father didn't believe it.

It's reserved for this Luthor only, Lex thought grimly as he let his eyes recede from the rain to settle on his reflected self.

END 1/11

What I've kept with me
And what I've thrown away
And where the hell I've ended up
On this glary, random day
Were the things I really cared about
Just left along the way
For being too pent-up and proud

Don't you know I'm numb, man
No, I can't feel a thing at all
'Cause it's all smiles and business these days
And I'm indifferent to the loss
I've faith that there's a soul somewhere
That's leading me around
I wonder if she knows which way is down

Here I stand
Sad and free
I can't cry, and I can't see
What I've done
No, God—what have I done?

And I poured my heart out
I poured my heart out
It evaporated... see?

~ ben folds five, "evaporated"