Title: Pieces
Author: Mitch
Series: Part 3 of ?
Rating: R
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Category: Angst
Warm hands. They're moving so fast. Is it him? When he touches me, it's slow and gentle. I try to form words, but only manage a soft moan.
"It's just me, dear." Her. I know her but... she's taking off my clothes. Why is she- "Mr. Luthor wanted you to have brand new silk pajamas for the visit. Aren't they soft?" They touch my skin. So smooth, like the top of his head. Mr. Luthor. But that's not what I call him. Why can't I remember?
I finally succeed in opening my eyes. She's working on the buttons. She looks into my face with such concern, such pity. A smile tries to hide her true feelings, but it's too late. Finishing the last button, she sits next to me on the bed and softly strokes my hair.
"How are you feeling, Clark?"
Clark. Is that me? "Why am I here?"
She makes no attempt to hide her concern now. "You look pale. He shouldn't be here for at least another hour or so. Maybe I could turn up the heat and make you some soup..."
"Martha."
"I'm sorry, dear?"
"There was a Martha. She took care of me and stayed up with me when I was upset." Trying to remember sends a bolt of pain through my head. But the memory is so real, if I can just hold onto it. "Are you Martha?"
"Clark, I'm Kate. You know that. You must have been dreaming."
I close my eyes to concentrate. The name Martha spins through my head, pulling at my heart strings, though I don't know why. A memory arises, dim at first, then comes into focus. I see her now, her face full of love. Love so strong and so true that it's almost a tangible thing, a protective warmth that wraps itself around me. But there is pain in her eyes and fear. I feel her loving arms ripped away from me. Why is she so sad? Who is she?
My eyes open. I must have fallen back to sleep. There's a set of French doors to my right and through them I see the sun setting. The room has taken on a fiery golden hue. Kate is no longer at my side, but I hear her voice. She's whispering with someone and sounds panicked. My heart beats a little faster thinking something might be wrong. But the voice that responds is deep, even, and calm. I'm instantly soothed by its resonance.
"Sir, he's starting to remember. What if he regains his strength and wants to leave?"
"I have everything under control, Kate. The only memories he has will be fleeting ones."
"But how? What are you doing to him?"
"That will be all, Kate."
A shuffling of feet and a door closing. I must be alone. The sun continues on its downward path and the room becomes blood red. Just when I feel myself begin to nod off, the mattress shifts beneath me. Someone is crawling onto the bed. A warm body curls up next to mine and a damp face nuzzles my neck. Him.
I feel relieved, like I was expecting him. He touches my face and his fingers send chills through my body. His touch is so familiar, so intimate, so... Lex. That's his name! I remember now. I remember coming here. He sent me to this place because he cares so much about me.
But where do the dark feelings come from? Why can't I remember anything but Lex? And why is Lex crying?
I force myself to sit up so I can look at his face. He looks so tired. I pull him up into my arms. "Lex, it's okay. I'm here. What could possibly be so bad now that we're together?" He sobs into my shoulder. I feel his tears soak through my new silk pajamas.
"Clark, I'm so sorry," he chokes.
"Sorry for what? Lex, you're worrying me."
"For sending you here, leaving you alone for so long. And even after all that you've been through, you still put my feelings first. I don't deserve you."
I cup his face in my hands so I can look into his eyes. Maybe something there will help me make sense of what he's saying. "Everything I've been through? No, I had to come here. It was for my own good. That's what you told me yesterday." My mind is getting sharper. I distinctly remember seeing Lex the day before.
How are you, Clark? I hope you're comfortable in your new home. This *is* your home, Clark. You'll never have to worry again. I'm going to take care of you. I love you.
His words are engraved in my mind. I recite them back to him verbatim. "That's what you said to me. That you would take care of me, and that... and that you love me."
He gets up from the bed with a jerk and walks to the French doors. I look past him at the now faded purple of the horizon. "Lex, I love you too." I think I love him. Who else is there to love? Who else is there in the world for that matter? All I know is Lex. All I need is Lex. My mind brings back the face of the woman, the one who loved me so. Was her name Marsha? It was only a dream anyway. The joy I see on Lex's face after what I've just told him is all that matters.
"Oh, Clark." He comes back to the bed and pulls me into a sweet and tender kiss, pausing only to take off his shirt. As I lie back, I feel my own shirt coming off and soft kisses all over my chest. At last, the light from the outside is completely diminished and Lex's movements become faster and hungrier, like a vampire whose true nature is revealed with the setting of the sun. My eyelids grow heavy with pleasure as I feel Lex's warmth all over me, inside me.
At some point, the movement stops. The heavy body collapses on me and breathes loudly next to my ear. Then all is darkness.
**********
The morning light reflects on the white face to my left. Pieces of the night before come back to me, but it's mostly a blur. How long has he been here? It seems he's been with me the whole time and yet I don't remember waking up next to him until now.
He mutters in his sleep. I wonder if he's dreaming of me. I decide I should get up and take a shower. Or at least find a shower. I slip out of the bed quietly and as soon as I get to my feet, my legs give out.
I find myself looking up at the ceiling from the floor. What is wrong with me? As I turn over to stand up, I notice something under the bed. I pull it out to get a closer look at what appears to be a lead box. As I open it, I'm overtaken by a blinding green light...