Lionel Luthor was a powerful man, but he lacked the poise of someone born with a pedigree. His slick tongue and shrewd business sense brought him up a few notches in Draco's estimation. Still, Draco was, in essence, marrying below his station and it showed in his dealings with Lex's father.

"Court my son?" Lionel repeated with a laugh.

"I assure you, sir, my intentions are honorable." Draco stood with decorum across a massive desk from Lionel in a glass and chrome-decorated office in Metropolis. He had decided it was time to formally request permission to court Lex. He'd allowed a fortnight to pass after Lex had angered his father regarding the layoffs at the plant, to ensure Lionel did not reject his request out of spite.

"Why would you want to do something as preposterous as that?" Lionel said, still sounding like he'd been told a joke.

Draco did not find the situation humorous. Requesting permission to court a son or daughter was an important event and should be treated with solemnity and respect. "It is what one does when they desire a future marriage with the intended."

"Marriage!" Lionel laughed heartily, again. He stood, circled the desk, and put an unwanted, proprietary arm around Draco's shoulders. "I know Lex's proclivities may lead you to believe he would want a relationship with a man, but I assure you, he is merely sowing his wild oats. He will marry a suitable woman when it is time for him to wed."

Draco picked off Lionel's hand and stepped out of the faux embrace. He gave Lionel a scathing look. "Sir, as your are Lex's father, I shall withhold my offense at the belittling of my person. Your son is a suitable candidate for a man of my station and I find him to be delightful company. A match between us would be both profitable and pleasant. I shall ask you again for the permission to court your son."

Lionel lost his entertained expression and his stare darkened. "Your infatuation with Lex ceases to be amusing, Mr. Malfoy. You are to pack your belongings and leave the castle tonight."

"Do not threaten me, Mr. Luthor," Draco said, giving up his pretense of politeness. It would jeopardize his chance at attaining permission, but no one spoke to a Malfoy in that manner. "I will not be disparaged by a nouveau riche muggle with no pedigree behind his name. I am a fifteenth generation Malfoy and the current head of the Malfoy family with more wealth and standing in my little finger than you could ever possess in your entirety. I wish to wed your son, Lex, and I ask you once more for the permission to court his hand."

"Hunh." Lionel stroked his beard, appearing intrigued now. "Your articulate vehemence is noted. Fifteenth generation, you say? Where does your family hail from?"

"Wiltshire." Draco felt the wind change in his favor. He should've known money and power would be more attractive than an emotional plea.

Lionel nodded slowly, thoughts tumbling almost visibly in his head. "Very well. I give you permission. Although marriage is illegal between homosexuals, I'm certain we can work around that and come to a contract that will be mutually beneficial."

Draco refrained from sneering derisively. If he weren't so fond of Lex, he wouldn't put up with Lionel's crassness. "I'm sure we shall. Good day."

He left Lionel undoubtedly plotting to get his grubby hands on the Malfoy fortune. It would be a difficult task, considering, after what had happened when his father died, Draco had appointed guardians over his estate firmly entrenched on the other side of the war, to ensure that the Ministry would be unable to take his money, property, or remove valuable items from the manor as reparations.

Draco apparated back to Smallville, and a spring grew in his step as he went in search of Lex. Now that permission had been given, Draco could woo Lex as he deserved. Then, not only would Draco have a place to stay for the duration of the war and the aftermath, it would be with someone he wanted to spend a lifetime getting to know better and introduce to the wizarding world.

Who would have thought he, Draco Malfoy, a staunch separatist, would fall in love with a muggle?

Someone somewhere was laughing like mad.

"Lex!" he called, heading for the office. Ideas ran high-speed through his mind, ways to show Lex he was wanted and adored until he truly believed it and consented to marry Draco. And if none of his ideas worked, he'd tie Lex to the bed and shag him into agreement.

If Lex didn't get killed, first.

Draco pulled up fast, heart seizing in instant fear, when he stepped through the doorway. Six Death Eaters in full robes and masks spread in a half-circle throughout the room, all with their wands aimed in his direction, save one, who had Lex in his grasp. Lex's face was red and blotchy, his expression pinched in a suppressed grimace of pain.

Hesitation would net Draco a coffin, something he'd learned in his years as a double agent. He flicked his wrist, his wand dropping into his hand, and he apparated with a pop as two Death Eaters cast spells at the space he'd occupied a beat prior. He re-appeared on the other side of the office, behind the bar, and aimed his wand at Lex.

With a complicated flick of the tip, Lex started shrinking. Draco ducked behind the bar, keeping the image of a mouse firmly in his mind, 'seeing' Lex transfigure. Green light flashed overhead as the Death Eaters shot the Killing Curse. Draco couldn't breathe, terror freezing his lungs, hoping beyond hope that Lex hadn't gotten hit. He apparated again, knowing the only way to save them both would be to grab Lex and flee.

Draco popped up in the balcony overlooking the office, rows of books rising behind him. He saw Lexmouse scurry across the hardwood floor and a Death Eater aiming for him. "Accio mouse!" Draco cried, leaning over the balcony, reaching towards Lexmouse as Lexmouse zipped from the ground into the air.

"Avada Kedavra!" "Expelliarmus!"

Draco yipped and threw himself onto the ground. Both spells exploded against the balcony rail. Lexmouse squealed as he sailed past where Draco had been and thumped against the bookshelf. Draco winced, rolled to his knees, and crawled quickly over to Lexmouse. Grabbing the dazed Lexmouse, Draco stuffed him in a pocket and apparated from the castle.

The man-made lake was calm. The sinking sun reflected against the surface of the water, rippling at the edges. Colorful leaves had fallen from the surrounding trees, floating on the lake like small boats. Draco disapparated on the muddy shore. Still on Lex's property, but hidden by the woods, they were temporarily safe.

Draco took Lexmouse from his pocket, set him carefully on the ground, and transfigured him back to normal. Lex looked scared and in pain. Draco touched Lex's face, shoulder, and down his arm. "I know I said I wouldn't do that again, but I had no choice. Are you all right?"

"Who are they?" Lex said instead of answering, wiping a shaky hand over his sweating scalp. His burgundy button-down shirt was torn at the elbow, and the glimpse of that point of bone made him seem very vulnerable.

Draco's fingers tightened around his wand, anger flaring. That scum touched Lex. "Death Eaters."

Lex swallowed and glanced in the direction of the castle, even though it couldn't be seen from where they stood. "They wanted you."

"I know." Draco rubbed the back of his neck. "That they're here means either the war is over and the Dark Lord won or my whereabouts were tortured out of my contact. Whatever the reason, we have to leave. Disappear."

"You're not going to fight them?"

Draco looked at Lex like he was insane. "There are six of them and one of me. And who knows how many more are on the way?"

"Is there someone you can call for help?" Lex said.

"Moody, maybe, if he's not dead," Draco said, frowning at nothing across the lake. "I'm not high on the priority list of the few wizards who knew what team I really played for. Nearly all the opposing side otherwise thinks I'm a Death Eater, and the Death Eaters know I'm a traitor. It's one of the reasons I came to America, aside from wanting to see you again."

Lex flashed him a half-smile before it was swept away by worry. "Disappearing will be easy, with my money and contacts, but what about my staff at the castle?"

"If they're not dead already, they soon will be," Draco said bluntly. "Count on downtown to be decimated, as well. Death Eaters do not take defeat lightly."

The corners of Lex's eyes pinched as he frowned deeply. "I can't allow that to happen."

"Why not? It's not like you have many friends here."

"Thanks," Lex said sarcastically. Draco shrugged. Lex shook his head. "We still have to do something."

"I'm more concerned about your safety and my own than a bunch of strangers' well-being," Draco said. "If there's one rule of war that I've learned, it's that it's every wizard for himself. No one is a hero when faced with certain death."

"Yet, you were a hero every day since you were seventeen."

Draco scoffed. "Right."

"You told me you spied on the Death Eaters and sabotaged their efforts whenever you could," Lex said. "You've saved lives repeatedly under the threat of discovery. You may not have charged in, guns blazing, but that doesn't make you any less of a hero because of your actions."

Draco felt his cheeks and the tips of his ears heat. "I was only doing it as revenge for my father."

"Selflessness rarely exists in today's world," Lex said, stepping closer and slipping his hands behind Draco's neck. "I like my heroes a little dark."

"Does that make you my damsel in distress?" Draco put his hand on Lex's lower back. "Are you the virgin I saved from being sacrificed?"

Lex lowered his gaze and Draco watched as a bright red flush climbed from beneath the collar of Lex's shirt, spread over his face and covered his entire scalp. Lex's fingers fidgeted with the nape of Draco's hair. "I'm not a virgin anymore."

Draco caught the underlying meaning and his jaw dropped. "You mean you… I…"

Lex nodded minutely.

Sweet Morgana. Draco moaned roughly, dragged Lex fully against him, and attacked his mouth. A virgin. Draco's cock throbbed. It was not the time, nor the place, but he wanted Lex desperately, pride and possessiveness swelling inside him. He kissed Lex harder, deeper. Lex's fingers dug into the back of his neck.

A splash yanked Draco from the depths of Lex's mouth, startled. He whipped around, wand raised, eyes searching for what made the noise. The lake rippled near the edge where they stood. Lex crept closer to the lake, bent, and peered into the water. "A fish," he declared, though his voice was hushed.

Adrenaline flowed through Draco's veins, mixing with a return of his nervousness and fear of the Death Eaters. Later, after they were holed up somewhere safely, he'd take Lex over and over and over again, until any lingering trace of Lex's virginity had been claimed by Draco and Draco alone. He gave the curve of Lex's arse a heady stare.

Lex straightened, turned, and caught Draco's look. His blush returned, even as he smirked wolfishly. "You've already plucked that cherry, too."

"Doesn't mean I'm not hungry for more," Draco drawled and licked his lips obscenely.

Lex sauntered closer, loose-hipped, like walking sex, and rubbed blatantly against Draco as he passed. "It's all for you. But not until after we remove the problem at the castle."

Draco's arousal lost power at the reminder. He sighed. "I suppose we could cause an explosion, fell them all in one swoop, if we can figure out a way to get them in one spot. They'll check the castle for me first before expanding their search. Most people go back for belongings, like idiots, when they're forced to rabbit."

Lex bit the side of his thumb, his brow furrowed, and then looked in the opposite direction of the castle. "I think I have an idea."

-tbc