Note:

Yes, I've taken a few liberties with the Smallville stuff (but hopefully it will seem logical once you read this chapter) and added a favorite character from the first Superman movie (lovable Otis).

I also use a version of Baron Battle's real name I came up with BEFORE I learned (watching Sky High for the second time) that it WAS his real name.

Again, I'm pleading alternate universe.

We're Not In Kansas Anymore

Chapter 5

"Like Repels Like"

She knew.

Somehow Lana knew.

Clark sat there on the fence to his family's property, waiting for her to show up.

Only hours ago, Warren had taken Lana back to the Talon and helped her close while Clark disposed of the ashes of Solomon Grundy. The two of them then took Lana home but Clark noticed how quiet Lana and Warren were. After they got home, he told Clark what Lana had said.

"SHE KNOWS?" Clark nearly yelled in shock, almost waking up his parents.

"Calm down," said Warren, "she's totally cool with it. She said she's actually known for quite a while but didn't know how to tell you."

But she could tell Warren, a guy she had only known for a couple of hours. Of course Warren had also saved her from Grundy where the monster's kryptonite based power had severely weakened Clark. Still he was glad that she had not been scared of Warren, which was remarkable considering her past encounters with empowered beings had been negative.

Now he heard the sound of something approaching, and saw Lana riding up on her horse. He smiled and waved to her, but still had no idea what to say. The fact she knew he had powers had removed a major obstacle in their relationship, but what else did she know? Did she know he was actually from another world? Did she know that he had arrived in a ship along with the meteors of his destroyed planet that had caused so much havoc, including killing her parents? He had always felt strangely guilty about that, even though he had had no control over what happened when he came to earth. If she did and was still friends with him, she was an even better person than he thought.

"Hi," she said shyly as she pulled her horse around.

"Hey," Clark smiled back, feeling as shy around her for the first time as he had when they first met.

"I'm glad you called," she said, "it gives me an excuse for being away from town while the parade is going on. It's a nightmare down there right now, especially what with the cleanup from what happened last night."

What had happened was the beginning of Solomon Grundy's rampage where the monster had hurled a fuel truck into an empty building, creating an explosion and fire that caused the building to collapse into the street. He had then followed after Clark, leaving a trail of destruction with destroyed cars and downed power lines everywhere. While Warren had dealt with the kryptonite created super zombie, Clark had been able to put out the main fire and safely secure the downed power lines so emergency crews could restore power and the fire department could take care of the smaller fires. The fact no one had been killed or injured was an absolute miracle.

"I'm glad you're okay," Clark said, "when I think what could have happened to you if Warren hadn't been there…"

"He was," said Lana, "and it was because of you. Looks like you did it again…unintentionally this time, I guess."

"Did what?"

"Came through and saved me…or someone else…at the last second. You're really good at it, in case no one has ever told you before."

Clark grinned at that, still unable to bring himself to ask her how she had discovered he had powers.

"Almost from the beginning," she said as if she could read his mind.

"What?"

"I've known almost since the beginning," she repeated.

"How?"

"Come on Clark, how many times was I, or Chloe, or Lex or your parents or somebody else in some kind of danger and things just seemed to turn out okay and, lo and behold, you just happened to be there?"

"Good timing?"

"Yeah, in a way," said Lana, "but when all the mutants and monsters started popping up, all of a sudden you were nearby too. I may not be someone with a nose for news and a drive to be a big time investigative reporter like Chloe, but I'm not stupid either."

"I never thought you were."

"I know," she smiled, "that's not the point. You were always so secretive at times…disappearing all of a sudden just as fast as you "happened" to be in time for something bad to be prevented. I used to read some of your comics when we were little Clark, and I noticed how the super heroes always seemed to act the same way in their normal identities. And when I watched "Unbreakable" that cleared it up for me; you pretty much filled all the "rules" they had in that movie."

"Why didn't you ever tell me you knew?"

"Because it was YOUR secret, dummy," she grinned, "and I figured you'd tell me when you were ready. I also never told you that I knew because you would worry a lot about that too. I am a bit of a trouble magnet, you know."

"Actually a lot of it's aimed at me," said Clark, " you and the others get in the crossfire."

"Well, you've got the ego to match," she said with a smile. "Besides, there are so many others with powers around, it was just a matter of time before one would turn out to be a hero, and it looks like it's you."

So that was it. Lana knew he had super powers, but thought he was another of the nearly endless parade of kryptonite mutants. This made things bittersweet all over again, because though she knew about his abilities, their true source was still a secret from her. Could he tell her about his alien heritage now?

"So this school you're going to…it's for heroes in training?" asked Lana.

"Yeah," said Clark, "there's a LOT of other kids there. I've even met the son of the Commander and Jetstream…he's a nice guy, but a little on the shy side."

"Hmmm," said Lana, "now WHO does that remind me of?"

"And that's how I know Warren," said Clark, "we…kind of got off on the wrong foot, but now we're friends. He reminds me a lot of Lex."

"I can see that," said Lana, "but even Lionel Luthor never stole a nuclear missile and tried to create an earthquake to separate California from the rest of the country and take it over."

"Yet," said Clark with a smile.

Lana laughed at that, lighting up the morning even more. She apparently knew all about Warren too, including his being the son of the infamous Baron Battle who was serving a quadruple life sentence in prison for the very crime Lana had mentioned.

"I want you to know something else," said Lana, "after Warren saved me last night…something kind of happened."

"Like what?"

"Well, he had just saved me from that horrible monster and I was still scared and I needed some comforting and we…"

"Hero's reward," said Clark.

"What?"

"Hero's reward," repeated Clark, "that's what it's called at Sky High…my new school. When someone saves a citizen of the opposite sex they're usually very grateful…emotions are high on both sides and sometimes…there's a kiss. It's cool."

"And how many "hero's rewards" have YOU received over the years," teased Lana.

"None really," said Clark, blushing a bit, "I only count the ones I got from you."

"Well, he's VERY good at rescuing and…receiving his reward."

"Whoa, that's a little too much information," said Clark, trying to sound like he wasn't affected by what Lana had just said, but the jealousy from the night before hit him again.

He hadn't counted on Lana and Warren hitting it off so well. Sure Warren was handsome and had charisma, but his saving Lana only made things more in his favor. Clark didn't know how to feel right now. He himself had been sort of seeing Layla, but that was only at school. They hadn't been out on a date or anything…but neither had Warren and Lana.

"So," said Lana, bringing Clark out of his thoughts.

"So?"

"So what do we do now?"

Clark had no idea.

The pickup pulled up and stopped. Warren got out and stood looking at the imposing edifice of what he had already dubbed "Castle Luthor" the second he had spotted it from the road.

"You want me to go in there with you," asked Jonathan.

"No, you stay here, sir," said Warren, "I don't think I'll be staying."

"Well, good luck Warren," said Jonathan, "and remember what I said; Lionel is the nasty one, but I still wouldn't turn my back on Lex."

"Thanks, Mr. Kent," said Warren, "I'll be careful."

Jonathan watched Warren walk up to the estate, still fuming himself at what had happened that morning.

Jonathan and Martha had been up for an hour as they heard the boys stirring upstairs. The morning chores would be done after breakfast, then they'd all head into town for the festival, but the routine was broken by the sound of knocking on the back door.

It was Otis, the fat kid who was Lex's personal assistant. He was always pleasant enough, but there was something about him that made Jonathan on edge, as if he were looking at a stupid, but very mean little boy.

"Hello, Mr. Kent," said Otis, "I understand you gotta guest stayin' here named Warren Peace?"

"Yes," said Jonathan, "Warren's visiting us for the weekend and going to the festival in town this afternoon. What's your concern in this?"

"Well, Mr. Loothor," as Otis always mispronounced Lionel and Lex's last name, "has a personal invitation for Mr. Peace to come visit him at his estate at his earliest convenience." Otis had said the last part as if he had been rehearsing the lines all morning. He then handed a sealed envelope to Jonathan.

"I'll see that he gets it," said Jonathan, "and if there's nothing else?"

"I'll be goin' Mr. Kent," said Otis, taking the hint as he tipped his round straw hat and ambled down the front steps to the limousine waiting for him. Once there he had to let himself in as Mercy Graves, the Luthors' chauffeur, sat in the driver's seat without even looking at him. Apparently the bad feelings between the Luthors extended to their respective hirelings as well.

"What was that about?" said Martha, who didn't like Otis any more than Jonathan did.

"Lex is getting a little nosey about Warren," said Jonathan, "I don't like it."

"Suddenly very protective of someone you didn't want in your house a couple of days ago," smiled Martha.

"Warren's proven he's a good kid," said Jonathan, "and as long as he's under our roof and friends with our son, I'll be damned before I let any Luthor get their hooks into him."

Jonathan waited until the morning chores were done and Clark had left to meet Lana before he gave Warren the envelope.

Warren opened it and read the note. His features noticeable darkened like a storm cloud had suddenly formed within him. His eyes glowed red with anger, and wisps of smoke began coming off of his clothes.

"What is it?" asked Jonathan, knowing it had to be bad to upset Warren like this,

"What can you tell me about this Lex Luthor, Mr. Kent?"

"First," said Jonathan, sitting down at the kitchen table and indicating Warren should do the same, "call me Jonathan, and second, get comfortable…it may take a while."

"I think he's here, Mr. Loothor," said Otis as they heard the footsteps approaching.

Suddenly the large twin exterior doors to the study were kicked open, slamming into the walls as one nearly hit Otis.

Warren entered the study, refusing to look at all the opulent decorations including statues, armor and antiques about the room. He stood a few feet inside the doorway, staring straight ahead at the far end of the study where a massive oak desk sat before an enormous picture window. A high-backed leather chair was between the desk and window and Warren knew who was sitting in it with his back to him.

"He's DEFINITELY here, Mr. Loothor," said Otis.

"Otis, where are your manners? Offer to take his jacket for him," came a voice from behind the chair.

Otis started to do just that, but froze on the first step as Warren shot him a glare that could have very well incinerated the fat kid where he stood if Warren had wanted it to.

"I don't think he wants me to do that, Mr. Loothor," said Otis as he quickly backed away.

"Fine then," said Lex, "just go outside and wait for me to call you. I don't think this will take long."

Otis crept along the wall, trying to stay as far away from Warren as possible as he maneuvered himself out of the study, closing the large doors behind him as he left.

Warren stood still in the room, not taking another step.

The chair turned around, and Warren set eyes for the first time on the young man he had constantly heard Clark comparing him to. While Lex may have been good looking, his pale skin and bald head did nothing to endear him to Warren, and his blue eyes made him look like some kind of dangerous and cunning animal.

"Can I offer you something to drink," smiled Lex, "bottled water...fresh fruit nectar...lighter fluid?"

It was taking a lot of Warren's control to keep from launching a fireball down the little weasel's throat, but he had come to hear what Lex had to say and THEN he would decide if he would walk away from Castle Luthor…or a four-alarm fire.

"I'll take that as a no," said Lex, leaning back in his chair, "but you could at least have a seat while we discuss our…mutual interests and acquaintances."

Warren carefully approached another chair across the desk from Lex and sat in it without relaxing. Having had a father who was a super villain had given Warren a lot of insight into what kind of traps could be hidden all around a place like this.

"I'm assuming you CAN talk," said Lex, "because quiet frankly I think you're carrying this "strong and silent type" thing a little far."

"What do you want?" Warren growled.

"Right to the point. I like that. So I'll get right to it as well." Lex leaned forward in his chair. "I want you OUT of my town and AWAY from my friends."

Warren let a sneer curl his lip as he stared back at Lex.

"I thought this place was called Smallville," he said, "not the Kingdom of Luthor."

"What it's called is redundant," said Lex, "the fact remains you are a threat and I want you gone."

So that was it. Lex had instantly made the same assumption about Warren that everyone else who learned of his history did. He was already tried and found guilty of everything his father had done.

"Or what?"

"Simple," said Lex pulling out a large file folder stuffed with all sorts of material, "this gets delivered to every tv and radio station in the county, not to mention the newspapers. By tomorrow morning your face and history will be plastered all across the state."

It took Warren everything he had to keep from spitting in Lex's face and laughing at him. Thank God he was following his mother's teachings and not the temper he inherited from his dad.

"And just what will everyone learn?"

"Warren Peace…and that IS your real name…the son of Richard Peace, aka the notorious Baron Battle, was seen in Smallville lurking about at the same time a series of strange acts of vandalism and explosions occurred, seeming to coincide with the town's famous Fall Festival. I'm sure EVERYONE will want to find out exactly why you're here and what part you played in all this."

"I came because my friend Clark Kent invited me."

"Clark is a little on the…naive side when it comes to picking people for friends. As one of his friends it's in my interest to make sure he doesn't make any wrong choices."

"Clark's old enough to make his own decisions," said Warren, "but I agree he's capable of wrong choices. He's friends with you after all."

That seemed to hit a nerve with Lex, and he glared involuntarily for a moment before his face became expressionless again.

"And while we're on the subject," continued Warren, "Clark and his parents know full well who my father is…so does Lana."

That REALLY hit Lex the right way, and Warren knew he'd found Lex's soft spot.

"You hand that over to the media, they'll be all over the Kents wanting to know how and why they would open their home to someone like me.

"Here's an exclusive just for you, cue ball," said Warren, not caring or afraid to get down in the gutter to fight, "I met Clark at school. He approached me knowing full well about my father's past, and he wanted to be friends with me. He reached out to me when everyone else shunned me or hid their eyes in fear. Sound familiar?"

Lex had not expected that. He was too used to dealing with corrupt people with secrets to hide for so long to realize that he was now facing someone who was ashamed of the past, but not afraid of it. He also now knew he had been doing something he himself had been on the receiving end of; prejudice because of someone's lineage.

"I wish Clark was here right now," said Warren, "because I really wonder how he would react to this? Sure, he might like that you want to protect him, but face it; you acting like this makes me think you look at him like a mentally challenged kid…or a pet."

"Clark is my friend," said Lex, "he's…probably my only friend."

"And let me guess, you don't want to share."

"It's not like that."

"Rich boy who's had everything handed to him his whole life, and when it wasn't he'd take it any way he could? You've gotten very wealthy on your own Lexy, and I can just imagine how you did it."

"Everything I've done has been totally legal."

"Legal, maybe. Let's try for moral and ethical. THAT'S where I think Clark and his dad would be very interested."

"Don't you dare try to judge me," hissed Lex.

"Why not? You've done it to me. You instantly thought I was some threat to your precious little kingdom and your relationship with Clark…whatever it is. You judged me on my dad's past and you should know what that's like.

"You know, I'm glad Clark isn't here to see this, and I'm not going to tell him either. That's because all I've heard from him was how he wanted the two of us to meet…he thought we'd be instant friends because we had so much in common. This would break his heart, and frankly you're not worth it."

With that Warren got up from the chair and turned around to leave. He stopped for a moment in front of the huge open fireplace and, giving in for a moment to his anger, hurled a fireball into the fireplace, where it ignited the wood into a blazing fire. He turned to look at Lex for a moment, slowly shook his head as if he either felt sorry for him or was disgusted by him, then left. The echoes of his footsteps could be heard as he went to open the study doors and left Castle Luthor.

Lex sat for a long time after Warren had left, thinking about what he had said. Finally he rose from his chair, took the file and walked over to the fireplace. He then threw the file in and watched it burn in the flames. He stared as every bit of his gathered evidence against Warren burned to ashes.

He had wanted to rage. Grab the fireplace poker and destroy something no matter how valuable it was. He needed to release what was boiling in him, something that he couldn't deny.

Warren had been right. Lex had let his worse nature guide him in all his actions the moment he learned of Warren's presence. He had seen a threat to his property…and that included Clark and Lana. This whole thing had made Lex take a long, hard look at himself, and he did not like what he saw. Despite his efforts, he was becoming like his father Lionel.

Now he had made an enemy of a potential friend, one who could have understood him better than possibly anyone else in the world…and helped him to truly avoid what was happening now. He had also jeopardized his friendships with Clark and Lana all because of…what? His need to be in control? His drive for power? His fear of being alone?

"I'll find a way to make this up to you," Lex said to the images of Clark, Lana and Warren that he saw in the flames, "somehow, someway…you'll all be proud of me."

Clark climbed up to his loft in the barn where he found Warren sitting, staring out the window at the fall colored countryside. He walked over and sat down beside his friend.

"I'm sorry about what happened with Lex," he said. When he had come back from talking with Lana he found his dad and Warren were gone and his mom showed him the note that Lex had sent Warren.

I know who you are. I know who your father is and what he has done. It would be in your best interest to come meet with me. Do not tell Clark or his parents. They might not take the news of your lineage so well.

When they came back Jonathan had come into the house while Warren had stayed outside, eventually going into the barn. Clark had wanted to go out and talk to him immediately, but his dad suggested that he wait and let Warren be alone for a while.

Two hours had passed, and Clark had felt it was enough time. Warren had a bad habit of brooding, and that was the last thing he wanted his friend to be doing when they should have been out enjoying themselves.

"It's not your fault," said Warren, continuing to look out at the beautiful landscape, "I guess we were too much alike…that's why we didn't get along."

"But Lex never gave you a chance. And I still have no idea how he found out about you and why he threatened you. Maybe if I go and talk to him…"

"It's over Clark, let's just drop it," said Warren as he finally looked over at Clark, "I guess I should have known there'd be one jerk in Smallville."

"Don't let it ruin the whole weekend for you. Let's get to the Festival, the parade should be over and the carnival started. I promised Lana we'd meet her there."

News of Lana's presence seemed to perk Warren up, and Clark was glad for that. He knew Pete and Chloe would be there too, and it was time to show Warren that all his friends weren't like Lex.

To be continued

Next:

What's been going on back in Maxville while Clark and Warren have been in Smallville? Will has been making some new friends who are as nice as Lex and his dad.