"Lex, I thought " - he could barely say it - "we thought you were dead." Clark pulled away slightly to look Lex over. Lex was bruised and sunburned, and scraped raw in more than one place. Clark thought he had never looked more beautiful. He wanted to kiss Lex's chapped lips, and give Lex a thorough once-over. It was only knowing the whole Cohen family was just a room away that stopped him from doing so.
For his part, Lex looked like he wanted to do the same. "I've got more lives than a cat, Clark. Besides, if I died, I'd never have been able to find you, and get this reaction."
"God, Lex. I've been so scared, and all I wanted to do was talk to you. I've done so many things I'm not proud of. If you knew..." Clark was ashamed. Sure, he'd been under the influence of Red K, but that was no real excuse. What would Lex think when he found out how he'd spent his summer? Even more, how much would Lex hate him when he heard Clark had been responsible for the death of his baby brother or sister? At least Julian had had a chance to be born, and Lex hadn't had anything to do with the poor infant's untimely death.
Now we have even more in common, Clark thought. Our fathers both hate us, and wish that the other child had lived, instead. He only had a moment to consider this, as Sandy called out to them, "Clark, why don't you bring your friend into the dining room and introduce him to the rest of us. See if he wants some salmon. Rosa's put out another plate."
"Sorry, Sandy. We'll be right in," Clark said, leading Lex into the dining room. He began his introductions. "This is Sandy and Kirsten Cohen, and their son Seth. Over there is Kirsten's father..."
"Caleb Nichol. We've met." Lex interrupted, with the tone of voice Clark had mostly only heard when Lex was addressing someone for whom he had little regard, or respect. "And I'm well acquainted with Hailey." He addressed her directly, his disdainful attitude gone. "I'm glad to see you looking so healthy again." She flushed, and Clark wondered what the circumstances of their first meeting had been. He could venture a guess.
"You guys know each other?" Clark asked, surprised.
"Actually, Clark, I'm acquainted with Caleb, Hailey, and Seth. Though this is the first time I've met Seth in person. Caleb and my father have been business rivals for years. And I met Hailey at one of his Christmas parties several years ago. It was too short a meeting, unfortunately, but I'm glad to see she's still a lovely young woman." Hailey smiled at him, and Clark was once again impressed at the smooth way Lex had with women. And men. And aliens.
"Well, it's no wonder this young man turned to crime, if this is the company he keeps," Caleb said, looking at Clark like he was a bug under his foot. "Luthor is as dirty as his father, I'm sure."
"Dad!" Kirsten chastised. "Clark is a good kid, and he and Lex are both guests, and will be treated accordingly."
"Well, I hope you won't make a habit of allowing your husband to bring home delinquents, Kiki." He glared at Sandy. "I knew there would be trouble the first time I met you, Sandy, and you've never proved me wrong."
"Caleb, this isn't the time for this discussion. Dinner's getting cold, and this whole situation is none of your concern. I'm sorry, Clark. Lex. Why don't you sit down and eat, guys?" Sandy pointed to the empty seats next to Seth.
"Thank you, sir," Lex said. "It looks delicious." Clark caught the tiny grimace Lex made when he looked at his plate, but didn't think anyone else did. After all this time stuck on an island, Clark wasn't surprised Lex balked at eating more seafood
"So, Lex. It looks like you've been through a bit of an ordeal. Are you feeling all right now?" Kirsten asked. "We'd seen the news coverage of your crash, but the reports said you hadn't been found."
"Yes, well, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." Clark could hear him laughing under his breath, and was glad Lex felt well enough to make jokes. He suspected it was more a matter of 'laughing instead of crying', however.
"Thank God for that," Clark said, squeezing Lex's hand under the table. "But I still want to hear the whole story."
"And I want to hear yours. Sounds like we've both had an interesting summer." Lex ran his hand down Clark's thigh, causing Clark to choke a little around his potato. "I've missed you, Clark. I can't wait to bring you home." Clark noticed Seth's disappointed look at this declaration. He and Seth had bonded pretty quickly, once Clark got over Seth's uncanny resemblance to Justin. If Seth had lived in Smallville, Clark knew they would have been friends. It was too bad he had to leave so soon.
"I've missed you, too, Lex. I don't suppose there's any chance you want to stay in California, is there? I'm not sure I'm ready to face my parents just yet."
"Clark, it'll be fine. Unlike my father, your parents love you. You know they do." Lex reassured him. "Anyway, you know you'll always have a home with me, if there was a problem. I just don't think you'll need it."
"Thanks, Lex." Clark smiled at him, feeling a little better. Then he thought about something Lex had said earlier, that had slipped by with all the commotion during Caleb's outburst. "Hey, you never said how you and Seth know each other."
"Oh, yes.
"We met in a comics chat online," Lex told him. If he didn't know better, Clark could almost believe he was blushing. But then Clark didn't know Lex did chatrooms. All in all, this was turning out to be a very educational day.
"Dude, you're WarriorAngel22!" Seth said, recognition dawning.
"And you're EmoGeek14", Lex responded. "I knew this address sounded familiar when Clark's parents first gave it to me.
"Yeah, Lex -wow, man, I had no idea - bought my copy of Devilicus Special Number 2." Seth looked at Lex again. "Thanks for the excellent feedback rating, man. You really are happy with it?"
"Yes, the transaction was satisfactory. I'd be happy to conduct business with you again." Lex put on his best professional voice, as if the reminder that twenty-two wasn't that far off from being a kid was a bit much to take.
"Oh, well, good. You know, I really wish Clark didn't have to go. You either. Hey! Maybe you guys could stay for Comic Con?" Seth looked hopeful, but Lex was already shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, Seth, but it just isn't practical. Clark's parents need him home, and I need to get back to work before people think I'm incompetent. Besides, there's a reason I do all my Warrior Angel collecting online. I'm a little too high profile to show up at conventions." Lex laughed, and Clark had to agree he had a point.
"I wish I could stay, Seth. I really wish I could stay. But Lex is right. Besides, he came all this way out here to bring me home. I'm kind of amazed he was willing to get on a plane in the first place, not to mention get so near the ocean." Clark squeezed Lex's hand under the table. "That was incredibly brave."
"Yes, well, as your dad would say, it was time to get back on the horse." Lex laced his fingers with Clark's. "Besides, I had incentive. I've missed you, Clark, more than I can say."
"But not as much as you missed Helen, I'm sure." Clark didn't know why he said that. Jealousy, he supposed. Lex had explained why he was going to marry her, and Clark had tried to be supportive. It didn't mean he had to like it, though.
"Not so much, no. Realizing one's new bride might have had a hand in the plane crash does tend to put a bit of a damper on the romance." Shit. Clark had never cottoned up to Helen, but he'd thought it was because her closeness to his secret made him wary, not because he thought she would actually hurt Lex. Quite the opposite. He thought she would make Lex happy, and then where would Clark be? Sometimes Clark was a selfish jerk, he thought.
"Dude, are you serious? Your wife tried to kill you? That's like something you'd see on General Hospital."
Lex laughed, leaving Clark to wonder when Lex had ever had time to watch soap operas. "Helena Cassidine has nothing on Dr. Helen Bryce." Understanding Clark's puzzled look, he turned to him and said, "There wasn't much to do when I was in the hospital as a boy besides watch soap operas and game shows."
"Why does this not surprise me, Luthor?" Caleb put his two cents in. "I'm sure there are people lining up with intent to do you harm." From everything Clark had seen, that was entirely too accurate.
"This is hardly pleasant dinner conversation, Dad," Kirsten chided. 'I'm sorry, Lex. That sounds like an awful situation, and you're a mensch to come out here to help your friend after going through all that."
"Mensch? Honey, I'm so proud!" Sandy told her.
"Thank you, Kirsten. I'm glad I can do something for the Kents. They've got a habit of saving me, it was time to return the favor." Clark waited for him to bring up the bridge incident, but he didn't. Instead he told them about Earl Jenkins, a story that didn't require either of them to lie. Clark wondered who Lex was protecting by keeping mum about the most important event in their lives, but he was grateful Lex cared enough to do it.
"That sounds like our Clark," Sandy said. "Leaping headlong into danger, coming to the rescue."
"A regular super-hero," Seth piped in. Clark looked at him. He'd been uncharacteristically quiet for the past little while, watching the interplay between Clark and Lex, and backing away like he knew he was about to be excluded. It made Clark sad. He'd often felt like an outsider himself - even before he found out he was an alien - and he hated seeing that in a nice kid like Seth. He shot Seth a grin.
"Well, I don't know about that. You won't see me in a cape anytime soon."
"Only if it was made out of flannel," Lex joked.
"The Adventures of Plaid Man!" Seth added. Clark gave them both dirty looks. He was starting to think he'd leave them to each other.
Kirsten changed the subject by announcing dessert. "We've got lemon sorbet, fresh fruit, and I think there's still half an apple pie in the fridge." Clark perked up at that, and Lex noticed and laughed.
"What's so funny?" Sandy asked.
"It's a pretty safe bet that Clark will always choose pie. He has a relationship with any little hussy in a pasty crust that frankly makes me a little bit jealous," Lex teased.
"What, like those movies?" Seth wondered. "Dude, that's just sad."
"Eww, no! Lex, don't be a jerk." Clark didn't need Seth or his family thinking he was some kind of freak. Was it his fault that his mother made the best pie on this or - he bet - any other planet?
"Sorry, Clark. But you're just so fun to tease. Really, Seth, it's not so surprising. Clark's mother is the best cook I know. "
Clark was surprised. "But Lex, you've got a gourmet chef at your disposal, not to mention the means to eat at the fanciest restaurants in the world."
"I know, Clark. But your mother's food transcends all that. It's just - special." For a moment, he looked very far away. "You know, when I was on the island, I had dreams about it. Her chicken and dumplings, with the steam still rising, and the carrots cooked to perfection. Those cranberry orange muffins. Hmm, we really need to get you home."
Clark knew Lex was half kidding, but that didn't make it any less true. "I know, Lex. Mom and Dad need me. I can't believe they're going to lose the farm. What are they going to do? " He couldn't imagine any other kind of life for them. He'd grown up on his father's family's farm, and couldn't fathom what his dad would do instead.
"They aren't." Lex said. "The dept is paid." He didn't give any more details, but Clark knew that meant he'd paid it himself. How that had been allowed to happen was beyond his guess. It made him relieved, but a little sad. He couldn't imagine how his father felt, letting Lex bail him out. Clark wished he could believe his dad thought of Lex as someone who cared enough about his family to help, not someone who probably had ulterior motives, and shouldn't be trusted. That Jonathan had allowed Lex to help must have meant he was incredibly desperate. And that was all Clark's fault.
"Lex, that's... wow. I don't know what to say, besides thank you." Clark vowed to show Lex just how thankful he could be, later, when they had some privacy.
"Clark, you know I would do anything for you and your family. Besides, your father saved my life. Rescuing me seems to run in the family."
"How did he manage that?" Clark asked. Lex told them all about the crash, that he wasn't sure it was Helen or his father's doing, or possibly both of them together. He woke up in the plane's wreckage and found the compass Jonathan had given him, and used it to navigate to relative safety. Clark thought it was more a testament to Lex's own survival skills than anything else. Lex was amazing.
"Anyway." Lex finished, "when I got back to Smallville and heard about your parents' predicament, I knew I had to help. Luckily, your father allowed me to do so, though he's insistent upon paying me back somehow." Yeah, that sounded like his dad.
Caleb and Hailey both had to leave, but not before Caleb's grudging admission that Lex's survival skills had been "surprisingly effective. I still think your father's an unethical cretin, however." Sandy gave a sarcastic laugh to that. Clark didn't know why.
"Thank you, I think," Lex answered. "Right now I'm inclined to agree with you. Of course he'd probably say the same about you.
After a last round of coffee, and Seth's delivery of his detailed plans to sail to Tahiti next summer (followed by an apology to Lex, because "Dude, you so don't want to hear boat stories now, do you?"" Sandy brought up the inevitable.
"Nice as this has been, Lex didn't just come out here to meet 'EmoGeek'. Seth, you shouldn't call yourself a geek--. What are the plans for taking Clark home to his family?"
"Clark can stay as long as he wants, can't he Mom?" Seth interjected, before Lex could answer. "Lex too, of course."
"Actually, I can't, Seth. I'm needed back in Smallville, and I promised Clark's parents I'd bring him home right away. I've got the new jet waiting at the airport, with the pilot on standby."
"Oh. Okay." Seth's disappointment was palpable, and Clark felt kind of bad.
"Well, look, Lex. It's already late. I don't want to show up at Mom and Dad's in the middle of the night. Why don't we call them and tell them we'll be home early tomorrow? Then you and Seth and I can hang out awhile." Clark looked pleadingly at Lex, hoping he'd understand that Seth could use a friend or two, even if it was just for a night. And really, he was quite amused at the idea of them geeking out together. He loved the glimpses of Lex as a kid that he sometimes got.
"There's plenty of room," Kirsten told them. "If it's all right with Clark's parents, it's fine with us." Sandy nodded, too.
"That sounds reasonable," Lex agreed. He pulled out his cell phone and handed it to Clark. "You're number one. Call them." Clark picked it up, and walked into the other room, wanting a little privacy. Not that he was going to get it, with Seth peeking around the corner, but he could deal with it.
The line picked up on the second ring. "Clark? Is that you, sweetheart?" God, his mother's voice sounded so good.
"Yeah, Mom, it's me. Thank you for sending Lex here. HE told me everything. Yes, we're fine. We'll be home early tomorrow, if that's all right." He paused to listen to her response. "No, I'm not trying to avoid Dad, though I don't imagine he wants much to do with me after what happened. I just thought it would be easier for all concerned." When it looked like Sandy had grabbed Seth from his listening post, Clark went on, telling his mom about the new friend he'd made, and how he didn't feel right about leaving so soon. Always one to encourage Clark's friendly interest in a nice, normal high school boy, she relented, making him promise to be home by dinner.
"Okay, sweetie. Will you talk to your father before you go?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. I'll see him tomorrow. Tell him I'm sorry." Clark couldn't handle having that conversation long distance. He wasn't sure he could handle it in person, either.
When the pilot closed the door on Lex's new GulfStream, and told Lex and Clark to belt themselves in for take-off, Lex breathed a sigh of relief. He'd never been so glad to get away from the beach. The sun and sand and expensive oceanfront property that once might have been an attraction, just made him uneasy. He wanted nothing more than to go home, though he knew things weren't likely to be normal there, either.
But at least he could do what he'd promised. Bring his best friend home to the family that needed him, and maybe, get things back on track with Clark. He'd missed Clark, more than he could say. Missed the instant connection they'd had, despite their differences. Lately, it had seemed that the differences were taking over. The things Clark wouldn't, or couldn't tell him. The lack of trust. After awhile, their attraction to each other hadn't been enough. Lex didn't blame Clark entirely. Despite his looks, and the maturity he could show at times, Lex had to remember he was only seventeen.
That was why Lex had cultivated his relationship with Helen. Yes, he really did have feelings for her, though they were nowhere near his feelings for Clark. She was beautiful, and brilliant, and she had her own interests, which meant she wouldn't be threatened when he did the same. That her interests included murdering innocent people, and nearly killing her new husband was not something on which he had counted.
Really, it all came down to Clark. It was both a conscious act to give Clark the easy life he deserved, and a bit of jealousy. If Clark didn't trust Lex enough to let him know the real Clark, then Lex wasn't going to give Clark all of himself, either. It was petty, he knew, but it beat giving in to his anger at Clark's lies completely. This way, he thought, they could still have a future together. The parallels living this lie to his father's old infidelities were not something he liked to think about.
"Lex, are you all right?" Clark's hand on his arm shook him away from his reveries, and he turned to get a good look at his friend. Clark looked anything but 'all right'. There were circles under his eyes, and he looked somehow older. If Lex had to guess, he would say Clark was coming down from something, but he knew that was impossible.
"Not really, no, Clark. But I will be. Once we get home, and things go back to normal. Whatever that means, in Smallville."
"I'm sorry, Lex, for everything. I want things to go back to normal, too." He took Lex's hand, and didn't seem to notice as Lex squeezed it harder than normal as the plane took off. Lex hadn't felt this nervous about a plane trip since he was a boy, but unlike Lionel, Clark's presence reassured him, and made him feel safe. "I wish I could turn back these past few months, before I ruined everything for all of us." Clark bent his head forward, and Lex could see tears falling onto his jeans. That broke him, more than anything. He'd only seen Clark cry once before, when his mother had nearly died. He didn't ever want to see it again.
"Clark, come here." Lex said, pulling him close, and wrapping an arm around his shoulder. With his other hand, he stroked Clark's hair, longer than he had ever seen it, windblown into tousled curls. He wasn't sure if the comforting gesture was more for Clark or himself. "It's going to be all right. Your parents told me about the baby, and how you felt responsible, but it isn't your fault. The explosion was an accident. We all know you would never hurt the people you love on purpose." Lex reached into his pocket, and pulled out his handkerchief, handing it to Clark.
"You're not going to wipe my face for me, are you, Lex? Because my mother used to do that when I was a kid, and it would be weird."
"She probably spit on it, too. No, Clark. I plan on doing many things to you, when we're both feeling like ourselves again, but your mother would never dream of any of them." That got the beginnings of a laugh, and Lex knew Clark's mood had lifted, at least a little. He wished he could say the same about his own.
It helped when Clark leaned in to kiss him, lips soft on his, with none of the pressure he usually used. "I don't want to hurt you, Lex. I didn't think I'd ever get a chance to do this again, and I had to touch you." Ignoring the twinges of pain from his sunburned and scraped skin, Lex kissed him back, with more fervor.
"You could never hurt me, Clark. Not by loving me." Clark's tremulous smile at Lex's words and actions made Lex smile in return. It wasn't the full on Clark Kent grin, but it was something. It was everything.
They flew for awhile in silence, still touching. Clark was next to the window, peering out at the view interestedly. Lex would just as soon avoid it. "It all looks so different when you're down there, you know, Lex? Like nobody's the same, and they all want to hurt you in different ways. But then I think about it, and see it like this" he gestured to the view far below "and it's all home. Every bit of it."
"I know what you mean, Clark." At least, Lex thought he did.
"I never really appreciated it before. I was so concerned about being different from everybody else that I didn't get how much we're all alike."
Lex nodded, but didn't ask for details, as much as he would have loved to. He just said, "You know I'm here if you ever want to talk about it." He could wait. It meant a lot that Clark would even allude to the proverbial elephant in their living room.
Clark looked at him a long time, as if assessing Lex's ability to control his curiousity. "I know, Lex. Someday I will. It's just not something I can deal with right now."
"Believe me, I understand, Clark. I've got a pretty full plate myself. We've both got a lot of recovering to do." Lex wondered when he would feel like himself again. He could still see Louis in his head, and it worried him that he could lose control of his own mind like that.
"Yeah," Clark said, then they both were silent awhile, presumably thinking about what their homecoming would be like. Before too long, Lex felt Clark relax against him, and heard the small snuffling noises he made in his sleep. It made him feel tender and protective towards Clark, as if Clark was as fragile as the rest of them.
"You're going to come in with me when I see my parents, right?" Clark asked him. 'They'll want to thank you."
"I don't think so, this time. They'll be so glad to see you, they won't need me around. I promise I'll come by later, but you guys need some time to reconnect."
"I was afraid you'd say something like that. I don't know if I can face them alone."
"Yes you can. You can do anything, Clark. I've no doubts about that. Besides, they'll be so happy to see you, you'll have nothing to worry about."
"You really think so?" Clark wanted to believe him, it was clear.
"Yes, Clark. Hell, your mom is probably baking one each of all your favorite kind of pies, just so you'll have your choice."
"I've missed my mother's pies. They sure beat the one Kirsten served, don't they?"
"That wouldn't take much. But she was very nice, wasn't she? And it looks like you made a good friend in Seth. Nice kid, even if he was looking at you like you were Warrior Angel Special number 1, and he was an acid free sleeve."
"Jealous, Lex? That's cute. But you don't need to worry. I tend not to go for guys who look like psychopaths I've known." Clark looked up devilishly. "Even if they are kind of hot." He ducked when Lex hit him with the small buckwheat filled pillow each seat had on it, and pretended to flinch. "Besides, it sounds like I've got more to be jealous about. Just what exactly happened between you and Seth's aunt?"
"I really don't remember. I think we were both too drunk." Lex was only half kidding. He loved shocking Clark with his "big bad youth" stories.
"We're about twenty minutes from landing, Mr. Luthor," the pilot notified them. "Everything looks good."
"Thanks, Jeff," Lex answered. He liked his new pilot, whose background had of course been thoroughly researched. Jeff was right. The landing was smooth, and Lex was ridiculously relieved to be back on home ground. So was Clark, obviously, despite his apprehension about seeing his parents.
The private airstrip just outside Smallville was nearly empty when they landed. Lex's limo was waiting for them, thanks to his calling ahead. In less than an hour, Clark would be home. Lex was happy for him, but was starting to get apprehensive about his own reunion with Helen, and his father. He was going to have to ferret out some answers, and he wasn't looking forward to learning the unpleasant truth.
This time, Clark sensed his unease, saying "If I shouldn't worry, you shouldn't either."
"We're both going to be fine." Lex tried to believe it.
When the limo pulled into the Kents' drive, Clark all but hopped out while it was still moving. "Are you sure you won't come in with me?"
"That's all right, Clark. I think I'll just go home. You can call me later and tell me how it all went." He couldn't face witnessing another happy Kent family reunion. It was petty, but ever since that hostage situation at Level 3, he'd been uncomfortable watching Jonathan and Martha's open affection for their son. Jealousy wasn't one of Lex's better traits, but sometimes he just couldn't help it.
Maybe it wasn't exactly jealousy that made him hold back as he witnessed Clark's mother rush out to greet Clark, but the knowledge it wasn't his place. Clark's grin as he hugged her was luminous, and Lex could see the new lines Martha's beautiful face ease when she held her son.
"Jonathan! He's home. Our boy is home." Lex heard her yell, and Jonathan came out from the barn. Clark held back for a moment, looking unsure, until Jonathan approached him, arms outstretched.
"Clark, I'm so sorry, son. I should never have spoken to you the way I did. I didn't mean it."
"I know you didn't, Dad. Besides, you didn't say anything that wasn't true. It was my fault. I'm just glad you want me back at home."
"There was never any question about that, son," Jonathan said, leading his family into the house. Unnoticed, Lex told the driver to drive on.