Yay! I love this story. Out of all the ones I've written so far this one and Promise Me are my favorites. And I think the other is best left a one-shot, so this is my fave WIP.

Tom-Welling1390: You and me both, buddy! This is the most fulfilling non-one-shot I've worked on yet. And I've read both Estranged and Nightmare, and I have to say you're a pretty damn good writer yourself. You deserve a tin of my Grandma's homemade butterscotch fudge for the lovely review :)

DISCLAIMER: throws up Eew.

Chapter Three

Lex watched torn between amusement and worry as Clark attempted to sneak out of the apartment. He was, once again, wearing a Superman outfit. Clark remained in the window sill for over a minute, a look of uncertainty on his face. In the past three days, since Clark had been staying with Lex, the younger man had been more insecure than when they had first met, when the younger of the two was fourteen.

Deciding to help him make his decision, Lex revealed his presence by asking, "Are you ready?"

Clark leaned against the window frame. "No," he sighed, shutting his eyes. "But people are getting hurt out there. They think I've abandoned them, Lex."

Lex moved forward and wrapped his arms around Clark. "Let your Messiah complex go, for a moment. Do you think there's a chance you can do it without being overtaken by fear?"

Eyes tightly clenched shut, Clark replied, "I really don't know. Part of me doesn't want to go back yet. But on the other hand..."

"Yeah. I know. But you can't rush yourself into going back. You've barely had time to heal physically, not to mention emotionally. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, here, Clark, but it could be a while before your faith in people grows enough to handle this." He paused, letting it sink in. "On the other hand, you could go out there and do just fine. Maybe even save a damsel in distress or two." Clark flinched. Memories fought their way to the surface, but Lex brought him out of it before it could take hold. "What I'm saying is, don't rush yourself, because you could make things worse. I want you to be careful. You're my only real friend, and selfish as it is, I want you safe and sound."

Clark lay his head on Lex's shoulder and contemplated what he'd said.

Finally, he said quietly, "I guess I'll be ready to go back out there when I'm ready to tell my parents."

Lex tucked Clark's head under his chin and whispered, "Yeah."

After about a week in Lex's care, he deemed Clark ready to attend classes at Met U again, but neither even considered Clark moving back into the dorms yet. So every day Lex would drop Clark off at school on his way to his office, and pick him up on a delayed lunch break. The rest of the work day, Clark would hang out in the office with his friend, serving as both entertainment and a living calculator. After work, they'd take off and do something fun the rest of the day, which was usually someplace rather public so Clark would become more relaxed around other people again.

The press was having a field day seeing them everywhere together, but neither of them gave a flying shit, so they did pretty much as they pleased. It really riled Alina, Lex's head of PR, which Lex found amusing. How could it not be when her face turned red without fail, and scrunched up in such comedic fashion?

Lex rolled his eyes at another rag with a picture of them walking side by side, the headline asking, Has Billionaire Lex Luthor Taken a Male Lover? Then in the lower right hand corner, there was a quote fromsome actress or other, saying, "They Make Such a Cute Couple!"

"You won this time. Missed my spare," Clark said with a grin as he plopped down next to Lex. They were in a rather beat-up old bowling alley that was rarely visited by the press or anyone else, making it Lex's favorite bowling alley in Metropolis. Wiggling his eyebrows, he asked, "Whatcha readin'?"

Without looking up, Lex replied, "A list of places we've been caught 'making out,' according to the Weekly Star."

Clark grinned. He got as much of a kick out of the goofy articles as Lex did. "Any new ones?"

"Some oddball gym I've never heard of and a beauty salon, " Lex replied with a grin, setting down the rag-mag just in time to see Clark roll his eyes.

"They could at least name off a place or two we've actually been to."

"Yeah. Ridiculous." Lex picked up his bowling ball, put it in his bag, then switched his bowling shoes for his usual dress shoes. Clark did the same. "So, where d'you wanna have dinner tonight?"

"La Burrita," came the predictable reply. Clark really had a thing for spicy food. The waitresses all knew him by name now.

Lex grinned and shook his head. "Mexican food it is, then."

They had gotten their food to go, this time. They were sitting peacefully snuggled close on the couch, watching some Monday night football and eating their Super Nachos when Lex's home phone rang. After a few rings, the answering machine picked it up, and a guy on the other end of the line started yelling.

"Hey, you punk-ass rich bitch! Picka the phone! That pansy-ass don't needa be stayin' ousside the dorms! Juss 'cause he's ya friend don' mean he's too good to stay witha ress of us!" yelled a slurring, drunken voice. Lex rolled his eyes, but otherwise ignored it. He and Clark were getting used to these calls. Then a new, sober-sounding voice joined in. It was a feminine voice.

"C'mon, Clarkie. Answer the phone like a good boy."

Suddenly Clark went stiff against Lex's right side, the color draining from his face. Lex's brow furrowed. "Clark?" Clark didn't respond.

"Clarkie, I'll come see you, since you won't pick up my call," the voice promised, with a hint of mischief.

If how hard Clark was pressing into Lex's side was any indicator, Clark was trying very hard to be invisible. He was also squashing Lex's right leg in the process. There was a click on the line, and it went dead, but the young man's fear did not share the same fate.

"Clark, tell me what's going on," Lex asked quietly, shifting to embrace his friend.

"That was her," Clark whispered back.

TBC...