A/N: I'm slowing down the viewpoint shifts. This chapter's all Clark, the next one will probably all be Lex.

Chapter 6 - Rebellion

Clark knew he was already pushing his luck with his secret trips to the mansion. He wasn't sure whether to view joining the football team against his dad's wishes as getting himself into deeper water, or just as something he might as well do, since he was disobeying his dad at least once a week anyway. In some weird way, it made him feel a little better to have his dad be upset with him over something that made some sense for him to be upset about, even if Clark disagreed. It was also nice to have an excuse to be out of the house, though the football practices did mean that Clark wouldn't be able to visit the mansion as often.

But aside from all of that, Clark really liked playing football. It was a challenge to use his strength and speed just enough to win, and just little enough that his advantages would be unnoticed. And with the exception of Whitney, the football players and cheerleaders treated him like he was their friend, instead of looking at him like he was a loser—or not looking at him at all.

Things had gotten complicated quickly, though. The cheating scandal that had led seven football players to be suspended cast Coach Walters into suspicion, and Chloe's computer had burst into flames when the coach approached her, leading her to seek Clark's help in trying to figure out what was really going on. Clark hoped it wasn't another case of meteor rock infection. He'd already encountered that twice this school year, and twice was enough for a lifetime.

Clark visited the Beanery after practice to see if he could find Trevor, the guy who Chloe had asked him to talk to. Between the suspicions about Coach Walters and the awkward, forced interactions he'd been having with his parents ever since he joined the team, Clark was seriously considering quitting football.

Lana greeted him as he walked in the door. "Well, if it isn't Smallville's latest football star."

He was never, ever quitting football. "Let's see how I do tomorrow night. Hey, have you seen Trevor tonight?"

"No, he hasn't been in."

Clark could look for Trevor later. It was just as well—he could use time to decompress. "How are things going here?"

"Today is one of those days I just want to scream."

"Well, for what it's worth, I think it's cool you got this job." He had to force himself to say that part, since half the reason he'd wanted to join football so badly was because she was a cheerleader, and she'd quit cheerleading to come work at the Beanery.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry I'm not gonna get to see you play tomorrow. New girl gets the worst shifts."

He tried not to let the crippling disappointment show in his face.

"So, can I get you anything?"

"Um, may I have a cup of coffee?"

"Coming right up," she said.

Clark spotted Lex sitting at a table with a stack of folders. He knew he should probably stay away. If he went to talk to Lex in public, it was possible that his dad might find out. But Clark and Lex talking to each other in a coffee shop wasn't exactly gossip-worthy news, and other than Lana, Clark didn't see anyone around who he knew well enough that they might talk to his dad.

Lex glanced up at him and smiled, and Clark decided to chance it. He took a step closer to the table.

Lex lowered the folder. "Rumor has it Clark Kent joined the football team."

"Rumor's true." Clark sat down across from Lex at the table.

Lex's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Is your dad okay with that?"

"Actually, he freaked out. Told me I couldn't play. I'm surprised with my dad. I mean, he claimed I should make my own decisions, but then when I do, he shuts me down."

"Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but for once, I kind of agree with him."

Clark scoffed. "Not you, too."

Lex shrugged. "I've seen you run. I can't imagine you on the football field with a bunch of . . . ordinary teenagers."

"I would be careful. I've had to be careful my whole life."

"Sure, but I know how I am when I get competitive."

"Well, I'm not like you, Lex."

His expression darkened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Clark swallowed. Somehow, he had apparently internalized some of his dad's prejudices, and they had slipped out. "Nothing. All I'm saying is, I can control my strength."

"Okay." Lex put his hands up. "I believe you, I'll butt out."

Clark sighed. "You think I should quit?"

Lex shrugged. "It's not like your dad can do anything about it. You can do whatever you want, can't you?"

"I mean, I guess no one can really force anyone to do anything."

Lex half laughed. "Just because you can't feel pain."

Clark's heart skipped, and he lowered his voice still further. "Lex, does your dad hurt you?"

Lex's face paled. "My point is, you have more freedom than most to make your own choices."

"I dunno." Clark's stomach turned. "My dad and I have always been pretty close. I don't want to lose that."

Lex nodded slowly and looked away, but he didn't say anything.

Clark shifted forwards in his seat a little. "What are you working on?"

Lex groaned and opened one of the folders. "I'm trying to figure out which poor bastard should get the axe. My father wants me to cut twenty percent of my work force."

Clark didn't want to think about how his dad would respond when that hit the news. "Any way around it?"

"Once my father's made his mind up, he's not easy to turn around."

Lana arrived with a tray of drinks just then. "If it makes you guys feel any better, you should have seen the look on my aunt's face when I took this job. Not that I was eavesdropping or anything."

Clark was thankful they'd been speaking quietly and vaguely when they'd brought up his secrets.

Lana sat down on the arm of Clark's chair, and her side pressed against his arm, making it difficult for him to think about anything else. "I guess we're all in the same boat," he said.

"No, no. You both stood your ground and are doing what you want, and I caved." Lex smiled and raised his mug. "You two have inspired me."

Clark rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah. Joining the football team and pouring some coffee." It was best not to mention the forbidden friendship, though he'd probably need to talk with Lana about that later. "We're a couple of real rebels."

"Long live the revolution," Lana said with a small laugh.

Lex sipped at his drink.

"How is it?" Lana asked.

He wiped the whipped cream away from his lips and nose. "It's perfect."

"Good." Lana grinned and walked away.

Clark watched her go, then turned back to Lex. "Is that what you ordered?"

Lex examined the mug with amusement, laughter in his eyes. "Not even close."

Lex left the Beanery soon after that. He spent some time in front of his laptop, manipulating numbers on a spreadsheet, but once he'd figured out what to do, the proposal didn't take long to write.

His father stormed into his study the next day.

Lex kept his tone light. "Two trips in one week. I'm flattered, Dad."

"What is this?" His father held up a stack of papers.

"It's my new proposal. I worked out how to cut the operation budget by twenty percent without losing a single job."

"Lex, I specifically told you to cut your workforce."

"Why?" Lex raised his eyebrows, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "With this plan, you don't get the bad P.R." His father thought he was being defiant—that was a good thing. God forbid he figure out that Lex was trying to be compassionate.

"That's not the point."

"Careful, Dad. You're getting emotional."

His father's expression darkened, and Lex had to force back his shiver of fear.

"You get one," his father said.

"One what?"

"One chance to defy me."

Lex made himself laugh. "I can't figure out what you hate more the fact that my plan works, or that you didn't come up with it first."

"Just remember. Empires aren't built on clever bookkeeping."

Lex looked him right in the eyes. "Dad, you have no idea what I'm capable of."

His father's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Lex thought his father was going to try to hit him. But he said nothing. He slapped the papers down on Lex's desk and left the study.

The next day at school, Clark caught Lana by her locker. "Hey, um, I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

She turned to face him, her sparkling eyes looking right into his. "What do you need?"

Even though her necklace wasn't made of meteor rock anymore, he felt a little sick to his stomach, and it took him a second to form words. "So, uh, it's about last night. My dad doesn't know I'm friends with Lex."

She gave him a wry smile. "And you'd like to keep it that way."

"If you could just . . . not mention it to him."

"I wasn't planning on it. It's not like I see him very often."

"I know, it's just . . . Thanks, Lana."

She frowned. "Clark, are things alright? Between you and your dad?"

"Yeah, of course." The lie slipped out so easily. Lex has been right about lying to Lana. Clark had left the necklace replica where she could find it, but then told himself he would keep the deception to a minimum where she was concerned. He sighed. "It's been a little tense."

"It's just, I know he doesn't want you to play football, and now he doesn't want you to see one of your friends—"

"He's protective. That's all."

"I know, but—" She shook her head. "I'm sorry. It's none of my business. I've just heard so many good things about your family, and it makes me sad to think that you guys have been fighting."

Clark winced. The last thing he wanted to hear from his crush was that she was disappointed in him. "I'm just not sure what to do."

She took a step closer to him. "Well, it sounds like your dad is being overprotective about a lot of things. But maybe it's worth asking yourself, are those things worth losing your relationship with your dad over?"

The bell rang.

Lana winced. "I've got to go. If I see your dad, I won't say anything." She hurried away, and Clark was left alone.

Clark looked down at his shoes. Maybe this whole thing wasn't worth it. As nice as it was to have a friend to talk to, he had always been able to talk to his parents, and he didn't want to lose that. If it really came down to it, and Clark had to choose between his relationship with his dad and his friendship with Lex, he couldn't imagine not choosing his family.

Clark didn't know Lex very well yet, but he knew Lex had been extremely hesitant, at first, to go against Clark's dad's wishes. He didn't think Lex would make him choose between him or his dad. It frustrated Clark to no end that his dad might actually make him choose.

He didn't want it to come down to that, though. Maybe he should rethink football and keep his distance from Lex for a little while, until he could figure things out. Coach Walters wouldn't be happy, but Lex probably wouldn't even notice he was gone. Lex was rich and smart and powerful, and even if his dad was a jerk, he probably had tons of other interesting people to hang out with.

It wasn't as if Clark was his only friend.