The room was lit only by the moon that slanted thru the open window. Ashley leaned against the headboard of Lex's bed and watched him. He was sleeping so peacefully, his cheek pressed to her belly; legs entwined with hers, hands holding her tight even in his slumber. Her fingers caressed the side of his face and she wondered how she had gotten here. It was not what she had expected when she had woken up that morning.
The passion in the garden had been so intense and it had reached into her very being, fanning the flame that had never died. She had never lost that spark for him, she had tried to smother it so many times but it refused to die. Just like Lex, it could not be killed.
Stumbling and laughing they had made their way into the castle and up to his room. Lex had snagged a bottle of merlot on their way, wanting to share it with her. he opened it and they shared a glass, the rich vintage bringing back memories for both. He never let her get too far away, his hands on her constantly. He had asked her again why she was there, she gave him the same answer but added that she would have turned back when she got lost had it not been for a friend of his she bumped into while getting coffee. Lex had smirked, a knowing look in his eyes.
"Let me guess, Clark Kent." He said she chuckled and nodded. He shook his head and hugged her closer.
"Yeah I was talking to him about you this morning, he kept urging me to call you. I told him he was a hopeless romantic." He ran his hands down her back slowly. "Guess I was wrong, huh?" he laughed. They sat in the window seat and let the soft wind blow over them. She with her back against his chest, he was so close with arms around her, his lips on her ear. They talked about things that had happened since they had parted. There was some laughter, some tears and more kissing.
"I cannot get enough of you." he breathed against her neck his hands moving over her body in covetous motions.
They had worked their way to his bed and made love again, this time much slower, taking more time to savor each other. Then he had told her he wanted her to stay the weekend. She agreed, though she was still hesitant.
Ashley could not explain the trepidation she felt. What was it that made her stop and tremble in apprehension? She feared letting it get too powerful but it seemed to be a moot point. Be honest Ashley, she thought to herself, what are you afraid of?
She feared Lionel Luthor, she knew he would come down on them like a rain of fire if they rekindled their relationship; the man would do what he could to break them up again. Lex had told her about the double cross Lionel orchestrated with Helen. It made her sick to think that they had gotten so close to killing him. What would he do if Ashley was back in Lex's life?
He shifted against her and his hands smoothed over her hips, he mumbled incoherently and settled once more. She looked at him and her heart felt tight and full, she did still love him so. His face was clear in the soft light, the angles and lines sharp. Yes he was the man who held her heart, it was foreign to think she had expected that feeling to go away. There was nothing to compare the way he made her feel, the way they connected on a physical level was powerful. He could make her come so easily; it was not even an effort.
Ash tipped her head back and closed her eyes, there was a turmoil brewing in her soul and it would only get bigger before it went away. She inched herself down the bed and Lex moved in his sleep, allowing her to curl her body to his and hold him. Sleep did not find her for a while.
xxxxxx
Metropolis: LuthorCorp Tower: Lionel's Office.
The heat still held the city in its fist, for those without climate control it was hellish. High in his penthouse office, Lionel Luthor did not feel it, his office a pleasant temperature. Not that he noticed. He was submerged in his mind. He had a very hard choice to make and he felt an unusual emotional tug in making it.
If he wanted to keep himself from jail he had to make this happen, he had to sacrifice his son. He had looked at all other options; there was nothing else he could do. He had to play this hand out to the end. Lex had pushed him to do this, he could not understand why.
The phone beeped and startled Lionel out of his inner thoughts; he glared at the caller id and opened the cell with irritation.
"What is it?" he barked. The voice on the other end was deep and business like.
"Situation 23 has occurred, what are your orders?" Lionel cursed and rubbed his left temple with two long fingers. This was not what he needed right now, it would upset too many plans. His head was beginning to throb, he would have to make some changes.
"Stay neutral I will get back to you with instructions. For the time being continue to observe, take note of any change and report it to me." Lionel snapped the phone closed and hurled it down on the desk.
He looked at his computer monitor and double clicked a numbered file. The page opened and displayed numerous photos, all taken with night vision cameras. He leaned back in his seat, his eyes narrowing.
"Seems I will be needing this evidence after all." He said to himself. "It is a shame." He stood and walked to the end of the desk, he picked up a slender silver remote control and pointed it at a dark screen. The blank surface blinked to life and showed surveillance footage from a bank
As he watched a string of men dressed in ski masks bustled out of the vault with bags in their hands. They were almost to the door when a dark figure descended from the ceiling. The figure revealed it's self to be The Batman.
There was a short scuffle and he took out most of the men. Then a rail thin man in an odd costume covered in question marks began to struggle with him, in the wrestling, The Batman's cowl was ripped off. Lionel paused the image and stared at the very clear shot of Bruce Wayne. Lionel shook his head and walked to the window
"Yes, yes, such a damned shame."
xxxxxxx
The Next Day: Smallville: Luthor Castle
Ashley rolled over and rubbed her eyes, the early morning sun was peaking over the horizon. She could feel that the bed was empty and she looked around with sudden worry.
The large room was empty; she sat up, rolling to set her feet on the thick carpet. She saw her attaché sitting next to the small desk near the window; she got up pulling the sheet with her. She draped her body in the Egyptian cotton and walked to the bag. As she bent to open it, her cell phone began to chime.
She fished it out and saw it was who she figured it would be. Pressing the button, she held it to her ear and tried not to laugh
"Hey, Vi." She said. Lex walked into the room and smiled at her. She returned it and held up her hand. "No I am sorry, I should have called you. Yes, yes I am just fine. Where am I... well... I'm in Smallville."
She closed her eyes anticipating a loud reaction from her friend, but there was none. "Oh, well yeah, ok I will ...ummm...I don't know, yes I remember. Ok, love you too. Bye." She turned off the phone and dropped it back into her bag. She twisted her fingers in the sheet around her body and felt an odd bout of shyness overtake her. Lex leaned against the doorjamb and studied her change in mood.
"That was Vi, I take it." He said she nodded.
"She says hello and she is very glad your not shark bait." Lex snickered and shook his head.
"Yeah Vi would look at it that way." He moved casually toward her and she pulled her wrap tighter not sure what she was scared of just knowing she was suddenly frightened. Lex ran his hands down her shoulders and cocked his head.
"Baby, what's the matter?" he questioned gently. She shrugged and looked at the floor.
"I don't know...I'm just uneasy..." she shivered despite the quickly rising temperature. "I feel like we are floating above reality, in an unreal space and any moment the world is going to come crashing back in. Just now I was sure Vi was going to go off on me for being here, but she didn't. She was tickled, glad that I had come to see you." she looked at him with confusion. "That's what I mean by unreal." He looked her in the eye and his face became very serine.
"Ashley, I will not let anything or anyone ruin this again. I will not let anyone hurt you, that includes me." He said and leaned down to kiss her. She dissolved at the touch of his mouth; he could spellbind her with a kiss.
That was how it all started wasn't it, she thought to herself. He removed her fingers from the edges of the sheet, letting it drop and pulled her bare form against him.
"How about a nice long shower? I bet that will make you feel...much better." He suggested with a mischievous glint in his eye.
The day continued to grow warm as the sun climbed higher into the sky. Ashley was delighted that Lex had cleared his schedule to spend the whole weekend with her.
He showed her around the immense castle giving her the full history on various items and antiques. He asked her what she wanted to do, how did she wish to spend the day. Ashley thought about it and considered her options.
"How about a drive thru this bucolic little town you now call home?" she offered with a sly smile. Lex laughed and hugged her affectionately.
"That is something we can defiantly do." he answered.
xxxxxx
Metropolis: Luthor Penthouse
Lionel glanced over his image in the mirror one last time before exiting the room. He wanted to be sure his appearance was properly imposing, he had a key move to make and every little bit would help.
He straightened his tie and flipped his long mane of hair back. Yes, he would make a very sincere impression on Miss Embers. He smirked to himself and walked out.
His helicopter was ready when he reached LuthorCorp tower. Wasting no time, he climbed in and buckled up, he had things to do and no time for chitchat.
"Smallville." He barked to the pilot and turned his face to the window.
The trip was uneventful and as always quite fast. The chopper touched down on the lawns and Lionel got out. He was greeted by three of Lex's security men.
"Mr. Luthor. We did not expect you today." The first man said with the proper respect. Lionel snorted and brushed past him.
"Where is my son?" he threw the words back over his shoulder. The men scrambled to catch up with his brisk stride.
"He is out, Sir. He has a guest..." he was interrupted by another snort from the senior Luthor.
"I know he has a 'guest'." There was sarcasm in his voice. "When will he back?"
"We really don't know, Sir." They had entered the castle, all three men stopped and watched as Lionel continued down the hall.
"Typical! I will wait for him in the study." He said coolly.
Lionel shut the door and walked to Lex's desk. With Lex out entertaining his strumpet, Lionel had a chance to do some poking around.
He sifted thru the files on the desk but found them to be financial and productivity reports from the plant. He should have known his son would not leave anything sensitive out with in reach.
His attention turned to the file cabinets hidden in the old oak sideboard. Again, he found nothing of real value and he was frustrated. Giving up for the time being he got himself a drink and sat down to wait.
It was three hours before Lex and Ashley returned to the castle. The ride thru Smallville had enchanted her, giving her a new view on small town charm. They walked into the cool shadows of the building, arms around each other and laughing.
Lex opened the door to his study and his face fell. Why did his father always show up when he was least wanted? He could feel Ash go still and silent at his side. The girl almost hid behind him, her fear having manifested in the flesh.
"Dad." Lex's voice was hard. "What brings you to Smallville on this hot day?" he was on guard, the only reason Lionel was there was to fuck with him and he knew it.
"Lex, does a man need cause to visit his son who has come back from the dead?" he smiled his oily smile and cast his gaze on Ashley. "Miss Embers, how delightful to see you again." His voice dripped with sugar. "What a pleasant surprise." He arched one brow and sipped from his glass.
Lex turned his head to her and caught the terror in her eyes, then faced his father once more.
"Do not speak to her." Lex said in an iron voice. "And lets cut the bullshit, Dad. Your here because one of your spies told you I had company. Yes, I know you have moles in my staff, I have not found them yet but when I do I will be sure to send them back to you." he crossed to stand before Lionel, effectively blocking the other man's view of Ashley.
"So don't try the old shtick of the paternal concern and care. I don't buy it, I never bought it and I don't know why you keep trying to use it." He glared down at his father and watched for the man to blink.
Lionel laughed and shook his head. He shifted to look at Ashley.
"The time on the island has made him paranoid." He said condescendingly. Lex stepped to block his view once more.
"I said." He spoke thru gritted teeth. "Do Not Speak To Her." Lex's eyes became a deadly silver and Lionel opened his mouth to respond, at that precise moment the cell phone in Lex' pocket rang.
Cursing, Lex pulled the phone out and looked at the display. It was the operations manger at the plant; the man would only be calling if there were major problem. He cast a suspicious eye at his father and turned away to answer the call.
As Lex turned his back, Lionel caught Ashley's eye, she took an involuntary step back, hitting the door with her shoulder. Lex became agitated and his volume got higher.
"What do I pay you for? Don't tell me you need me to hold your hand thru this!" he stalked to his desk and searched for a folder. While Lex was distracted, Lionel got to his feet and moved toward Ashley. She retreated into the hall hoping to flee him and hide in Lex's bedroom.
"Just a moment, Miss Embers." Lionel's voice froze her with her foot on the first step. She turned and looked up at him squaring her shoulders and swallowing her fear. Lionel spoke in a low but direct tone.
"There is something we need to discuss, but now is not the time." He let his eyes roam over her and his smile got predatory. She felt her skin crawl and she bristled at last.
"I have nothing to speak to you about." Ash spat and made to turn away. He caught her by the arm and pulled her closer, his grip was hard and a little painful.
"You will speak to me, my girl, or Lex and your cousin will pay for it!" his sibilant words struck her blood cold. She started at him with wide unblinking eyes.
"The last thing you want is your cousin's nocturnal activities to be exposed, and I know you do not wish my son any harm, but refusing to meet with me will bring him just that."
His face was inches from hers and she watched his eyes trail down to her neck, focusing on the shadowed bruise left by Lex's exuberance in the rose garden. Lionel reached out and let one long finger trace the edge of the mark and a dirty smile spread over his lips.
"I will say that my son does have very good taste in women, they are always beautiful if not very bright." She winced at the insult and he thrust a small white card into her numb fingers.
"Call me when you return to Metropolis, and we will talk." He grinned lasciviously once more before marching away.
Ashley felt her knees give out and she hit the step with a thud. The trembling started as she clutched the small white card and the tears began to fall.
He knew about Bruce...Dear God Lionel Luthor knew about Bruce! She felt like she was caught in a sinking ship with no way out. Scrambling to her feet, she ran up the stairs.
As she disappeared around the balustrade Lex emerged from the study and was instantly alarmed. He took off after her, spanning the steps two at a time.
"Ash! What happened?" he hollered after her. He could hear that she was crying and he felt that black dangerous anger sweep over his brain. If that son of a bitch had done anything to her, Lex was truly going to kill him.
He caught up with her in the hall outside his room. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he halted her fleeing. She shook in his arms and he had to crush another wave of vicious anger. His hands turned her to face him and he lifted her chin so he could look in her eyes.
"Ashley, tell me what he did." Lex's voice was calm but very serous. She blinked and sucked in a shuddering breath.
Should she tell him? Would it help or would that only make the problem bigger? Lex would be so incredibly angry, he could do something drastic. She did not think she could live with the guilt if Lex killed his own father because of it. That Lionel was a man who warranted dying was not the point; Lex did not deserve to be made a murderer because of her.
There was also Lionel's threat of harm coming to Lex, Ashley felt her head whirling in circles, and she did not know what to do. In a panic, she chose to avoid the subject and launched herself into his arms.
"Oh Lex! He just scares me... he did not really do anything... he insulted me." She fibbed hoping he would buy it, praying she could fix this before it hurt the two people she loved the most. She tucked the card into her sleeve and held onto Lex tighter.
He spoke softly and held her, her trembling did not stop but her tears had. He was confused and concerned. The Ashley he knew was much stronger then this. What had his father said to shake her so badly? He asked her and she raised her wet face to him.
"He noticed this " she let her fingers brush over the mark and Lex's eyes narrowed. "And he said you always had good taste in women that they were beautiful though not very bright." She pressed her cheek to his chest once more.
"I did not like him being so close and touching me. It was upsetting." She laid it on thick and Lex bought it all. He soothed her with gentle hands and quiet words. She raised her head once more and sought his mouth with hers.
The kiss took Lex's breath away, she was a well of need, hot and wanting in his arms. She pulled at him, drawing him into the bedroom with all the strength in her small body. He followed her lead his foot kicking the door shut behind them; she pulled at his belt buckle with nearly frantic fingers.
The clasp gave way and she moved her fingers to the zipper, Lex shifted his mouth to her neck nibbling his way down the white expanse. He groaned and pressed his face to her cheek as her hands slipped into his pants, wrapping around his hardening cock.
She giggled softly and pushed his slacks off his hips, they pooled around his feet as she followed their descent to the floor. As she squatted down she slipped the card in her pocket and forgot about it.
Lex looked down to watch her stroke him slowly, her pink tongue wetting her full lips in anticipation. She glanced up at him and looked him in the eye as she took his length into her mouth. The searing wetness of her maw was staggering Lex's head fell back and he moaned rather loud.
Ash moved her tongue in circles, sliding around his thickness; he filled her mouth pushing against the back of her pallet. She continued to work him, drawing the most undignified sounds out of him and it almost made her smile. She could feel him pulsing on her tongue, and knew he was getting close.
His hands had found their way into her hair, pulling out the clip that held the long silken locks up, he buried his hands in their depths.
Shifting his footing, Lex followed her pace, his hips moving to meet her lips with each plunge. He marveled at how good she felt and her skill had not faltered at all. If anything it improved, which puzzled him a little, she had confessed that she had not been with any other men since him, curious.
Lex did not want to end this session so quickly he pulled way from her velvet mouth and yanked her too her feet. He kissed her swollen lips with great force. Ash thought she might swoon under his attention. His hands pulled at her clothing as his mouth blazed over her skin.
He took her to the floor in a fit of impatience; he hiked her shirt up and freed one breast from the cup of her bra. His hungry lips clamped down on the quivering nipple and searching hands worked open the clasp of her shorts. He wrenched the shorts down off her hips and dipped his fingers into her satin panties.
The sound she made when his fingers thrummed her clit almost made him come. She arched to his hand and practically mewed. He removed the shorts and underwear with less tolerance then he had barley shown already. All Lex wanted was her naked and to be inside her NOW.
Once they had stripped them selves of the offensive clothing, Lex pulled her to the table; he shifted her until she was sitting on the wide, round, wood, surface. He pushed himself between her thighs and caught her lip in his teeth, biting hard enough to make her gasp.
His hardness hot against her skin, he investigated her folds with searching fingers, testing her wetness, seeing if she was ready for him. She held his shoulders wanting him as close to her as possible, he took his shaft in his hand and positioned himself at the entrance to her sex.
He paused and studied the moment before it passed, wanting to remember the look in her eyes, the scent of her all around him and the beat of her heart that he could feel against his fingers. Closing his own eyes, he thrust into her.
Jointly they moaned and the rhythm started. Having her higher up gave him better leverage and he plunged all the way into her with every stroke. Her teeth found his neck and she bit firmly as he thrust into her harder.
He hissed and took her wrists in his hands then pinned them down on the table forcing her to lay back while he fucked her. Releasing her arms, one hand slid over her belly, pressing the taught muscles as they flexed. The other moved to cup one breast and pinch the nipple sharply. All the while, he moved in and out of her, her breath coming in short gasps, her pleasure mounting quickly.
He could feel her quivering around him, and he knew this was going to be shorter then he wanted. She was just too hot, too wanton, he could not hold out against her climax. She shuddered and clenched him tight, her ecstasy coming out in a full-throated moan, her back arched off the table and Lex slipped over the edge after her.
The blinding pleasure robbed him of breath, he groaned deeply, and he spilled himself into her. He held both her breasts in his hands; his head back as the last wave shook him.
Leaning over her on his elbows he attempted to catch his breath. The heat of the day making them both drip with their exertions. He smiled a contented smile and kissed her lips.
"I love you, Ashley. I always have." He said with sincerity. She took his face in her hands and kissed him back.
"I love you too, Lex."
xxxxxxx
Later That Night: Lex's Bedroom
The day's heat had given way to a lively rainstorm; it took the sweltering temperature down rapidly. In it's wake it left a fresh clean scent and a temperate climate. The castle was quiet and dark, all activity having come to a halt when the master had retired for the evening.
Ashley slumbered in the crook of Lex's arm. He absently stroked her skin with his fingers while he pondered her encounter with his father. She had been so very frightened and then her mood shifted swiftly, she went from cowering to red hot in the blink of an eye. However, despite the unbelievably sizzling sex, she had never really given him the full story.
His gaze fell to her face tucked against his shoulder and he felt his heart lighten, when he looked at her the world seemed right and safe. He could not imagine how he had gotten on for three years without her.
He did not want to dwell on the fiasco of marrying Helen, not when he had this perfect little Goddess in his bed. He toyed with the idea of waking her, rousing her from her dreams to have her again right now.
She had gotten into his blood once more; he knew he would never get over the way his body responded to her. Never get over how his soul felt full and healed with her in his space.
He loved watching her sleep, something else had had missed a great deal. He had never known another woman who could be so beautiful when she slept.
As if she could feel his stare Ashley began to move in her sleep, her brow furrowed and she mumbled. Rolling over presenting her back to him, she seemed to be struggling with something in her dream. Lex sat up and reached out a hand to try to calm her. She began to thrash her mumbles became clear words.
"NO! I... have to tell... Bruce! NO... I can't... I-I... NO! You can't take him from me again!" She was almost screaming, Lex took her by the shoulders hoping to wake her. He spoke loudly but calmly.
"Ashley! Ashley, baby, wake up!" he held her as she tried to roll again her legs were tangled in the sheet. She blinked and shook her head, her breathing was harsh and she clutched him with her hands.
"Oh, wow." She gasped. "I'm sorry. I was dreaming." She sighed and lay back on the pillow. Lex was perturbed. He sat on his heels and waited for her to expound on her dream.
She looked up at him and knew she could not dance thru this like before. She attempted a stall, she needed to know what she had been doing and or saying.
"It was a nightmare." She said slowly. "Did I scare you?" she reached out her hand to caress his knee. Lex narrowed his eyes.
"Ashley, what were you dreaming about?" he asked quietly. She shrugged and rubbed her eyes.
"I don't really remember, it was all kind of mixed up." She mumbled thru a yawn. He could tell she was dodging the subject, not out and out lying, but not the whole truth either.
She cocked her head and leaned up on her elbows, he tried to not be distracted by the subtle bounce of her bare breasts and focused on her eyes.
"Ashley, you were screaming and thrashing around." He said. "You were saying No and that you had to tell Bruce and you can't take him from me again. Does any of that ring a bell?" his eyes were worried and she felt awful, she did remember the dream, vividly in fact. She just could not tell him about it if she wanted to keep him safe. Ashley reached into her mind and pulled on the first thing that would fit.
"It's an old nightmare." She pitched her voice lower and caste her eyes to the wall. "It's about Bruce and when he went away, and I guess it's just a fear that I will lose him again." She said. Lex shook his head.
"Now you are lying to me Ashley and the only time I can remember you ever lying to me was the night we met." Lex was getting angry and it was starting to show. Ash fumbled to a sitting position, still not looking him in the eye.
"Why do you think I am lying, why would I lie about a dream, Lex?" she asked trying logic. He moved back to the end of the bed and watched her with dark eyes for a moment.
"There is only one thing I can think of that would make you lie about something like this...and we both know what it is, Ashley." His voice dropped lower and she felt the hair on the back of her neck rise.
"What did my father really say to you today...and do not lie." He left her no doubt he would know if she did. She sighed deeply and pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around her legs and looked at him with fear.
"He wants to speak with me," She said in a small voice. "When I get back to the city." Her eyes were huge and he could see her beginning to shake, squashing the desire to hold her, Lex focused on what she was saying.
"What does he want to talk to you about?" he asked the bitterness in his voice making her flinch. She chewed her lip and tried to slow her pounding heart.
"I am not sure, I assume about us...he did not really say...what he did say was that if I refused, which I tried to do...he..." she trailed off her eyes now filled with tears. Lex clenched his hands at his sides and urged her to continue.
"He what, Ashley?" Lex prompted. She sucked in a breath and squeezed her eyes closed.
"He said he would see that harm came to you and he would expose Bruce's secret." The words came out in a rush followed by a sob. "Lex! He knows about Bruce! I cannot let him do this." She clutched her small hands tight and spoke around her tears.
"I was afraid if I told you, you would get so mad and do something crazy. If I told Bruce...I would feel dreadful for having gotten him into another bad position. I didn't know what else to do, Lex." She was crying now and he understood why she had hidden it from him.
The fear Lionel had evoked in her must have been paralyzing. Regretting having to be so hard with her, he moved back up the bed and took her into his arms.
The anger was sitting toward the back, but it was there and it was big. He would have to deal with that in the morning, right now he had to quell the fears of his lover and assure her that nothing was going to go wrong.
"I'm sorry he did that Ashley. I should have never let him near you." he said into her hair. She looked up at him she was confused.
"Why should you be sorry, Lex? You cannot control him." She said. He kissed her wet cheek and threaded his fingers into her hair.
"I am sorry that you had to be any where near him. And I promise, I will not allow it again." He said with dark conviction. She shivered in his arms.
That was what she was afraid of.
xxxxxxx
The Next Morning: Luthor Castle
Ashley rushed into Lex' study her eyes darting around the room frantically. He was not there, she cursed and pulled out her cell phone.
Where had Lex disappeared too? He had told her he had something to do as she climbed into the shower, and then he had vanished. She dialed his cell and waited with one foot tapping.
Something scary and sinister was mounting in her belly; she dreaded what Lex could be up to. The line rang twice before he answered.
"Hey baby, miss me already?" he asked his voice merry; she could hear the hum of a car engine in the background.
"Lex, where are you?" she asked hoping she did not sound too shrill.
"I have some business to attend to in the city. I will be back before dark, don't worry." He chuckled and her soul shrank.
"Lex, please tell me you are not going to confront your father about what he said, please don't do that." Her voice was getting more panicked with each passing second. He sighed and his light tone changed, it got heavy and serious.
"Ashley, this is something I need to handle. Trust me, I will take care of everything." He promised solemnly. She wanted to scream at him to stop, to not do this but he continued to speak.
"Now why don't you give Clark a call, see if he and the girls want to show you some of the more rustic sights of Smallville, I'm sure they'd be tickled." He said the cheerful tone returning. "I love you. I will see you tonight."
"Lex, wait..." she said but he had hung up. She glared at the phone and contemplated what she should do next.
That Lex was on his way to face Lionel while he was as angry as she knew he was could only spell critical disaster. She hit the speed dial and waited for her cousin to answer.
"Hey kid, how's Smallville?" Bruce's voice was mild and only a little mocking. His question making her stumbled over what she was going to say.
"I...h-how do you know I'm in Smallville?" she asked more then a little stunned. She could practically hear his shrug over the phone.
"Let's just say I have my reasons to keep track of my only living family. You sound weird, what's up, things ok with Lex?" he asked with his uncanny perception. She sighed and sat on the sofa.
"No Bruce, it's not. Things are turning toward the very bad." She said. Trying to keep her voce steady, she told him the whole story.
How she drove out on a whim, how Lex was so glad to see her, how Lionel had shown up with his vile threats, her bad dream which lead to the confession to Lex and finally his headstrong dash for the city and his father.
"Bruce, I am so afraid he will do something rash, that he will let Lionel push him to the breaking point." she finished and waited for him to respond. There were several beats of Bruce's measured breathing.
"Bruce, are you still there?" she said anxiously.
"Yes, Ash I'm here. I'm just thinking." He said slowly. Ashley felt like hurling the phone on the floor, how was it he was always so calm and collected even when her world was falling apart?
Bruce spoke again.
"Look with the new jet I can be in Metropolis in less time then a regular flight, but you are going to have to find a way to stall him." He said, there was an edge to his voice and Ashley felt her skin prickle.
"Can you call Vi or someone to head him off and try to detain him?" Ashley thought quickly.
"There maybe someone I can call. But Bruce are you sure you want to get into this? I know I have brought you trouble yet again, but I was really just looking for advice." She was trying to keep her guilt at bay but it was not working.
"No Ash, this is something I want to be in. I told Lionel to stay away from you and he did not listen. I need to call him on it. And if I can stop Lex from making a big mistake in the process, so much the better. You did nothing wrong, sweetie." He said trying to keep his voice as soft as he could; the rage in his heart was deep and dark it was calling for Lionel Luthor's blood. "Now call who you can and I will keep you posted." She agreed and they hung up.
Ashley could not hold back the sense of relief she felt knowing Bruce was going to help, though it was tempered with her self-reproach for creating a new problem for her cousin.
Getting up from the sofa she crossed to Lex's desk and picked up the landline. She scanned the speed dial list for one name. Finding it she hit the button and waited with her toe tapping again.
xxxxxx
Martha Kent was enjoying her morning immensely, with Clark and Jonathan off to the city on errands she had the house to herself and no one to pick at the pies she was baking for the Harvest Festival.
Now that the heat had finally broken the preparations for the festivities would be a pleasure rather then a chore. She dusted her floured hands off and opened the oven to check on the latest batch of her signature apple pies.
The phone began to ring and she closed the oven, crossing the large kitchen, she picked up the receiver and said hello. A pleasant if strained female voice came over the line.
"Um, Mrs. Kent? Is this Clark's mother?" Martha was suspicious, who would be calling Clark and not know his mother?
"Yes, this is Martha Kent, who is this?" she asked, knowing it was a little rude but her mother's instincts took over. The woman laughed nervously and continued.
"Well, my name is Ashley, I met Clark a few days ago, he helped me when I got lost in Smallville." She said Martha gasped and felt silly suddenly.
Ashley Embers, the rock star that had wandered into town looking for Lex's castle, Clark had gone on and on about meeting her, until his parents had to actually send him to bed to get him to shut up. Knowing she was talking to this famous singer brought a smidgeon of the girl out in Martha.
"Oh, Miss Embers, yes Clark did mention meeting you." she said sweetly. Ashley gave another nervous laugh.
"Oh, please call me Ashley, Clark is a very nice boy, um is he around per chance, I have something I wanted to ask him about." Ashley said hoping she was not being too pushy. Martha Kent seemed like a very good and decent person and Ash did not want to offend her.
"Actually, no I am sorry to say. He and his father went into Metropolis to get supplies. He will be so sorry he missed your call." Martha said with sincere regret.
"He is in The Metro right now?" Ashley asked her voice rising a little. Martha sensed some tension in the girl and her curiosity was peaked.
"Is there anything wrong, Ashley?" Martha asked. Ashley tried to keep her excitement down.
She had been hoping she could convince Clark to call Lex and keep him on the phone for a while until Bruce or Vi got to him but if Clark was in the city, he could detain Lex himself.
Ashley had caught on to how much Lex admired and cared about the upstanding farm boy, she had hoped to play on that in her effort to keep Lex from making this terrible mistake.
"Mrs. Kent, does Clark have a cell phone, I don't want to be rude but I really need to speak with him and if he is in the city as you said then that makes it more time sensitive." Ash said as smoothly as she could muster, then remembering that this was the woman she saw at Lex's wedding and his memorial. She added. "It's to help Lex."
Martha could tell there was more to what Ashley was saying and wondered what Lex had gotten himself into this time. Ashley figured the woman was hesitating in protection of her child.
"And Mrs. Kent you don't have to give me his number, I will give you mine. If you would please call him and tell him to call me as soon as he can, I would be so very grateful." Ashley was beginning to sound desperate.
If what Clark had told them was true then this girl was the one thing that could change all that was off about Lex. She let her affection for the misunderstood young man be her guide.
"That is not necessary, Ashley, here I will give you the number."
xxxxxx
Metropolis: Steps in front of LuthorCorp Tower
Clark trotted up the stairs and pushed thru the spinning glass doors. Ashley had been close to hysterical on the phone, she gave him the run down, which he processed into one thought: Lionel fucking with Lex...again. She was convinced Lex was finally going to slip and fall into the abyss of his father's darkness.
She had begged him; Ashley Embers had begged Clark Kent to do what he could to stop Lex Luthor from meeting with his father.
Sometimes his life made his head spin. The people he knew and interacted with made things a little surreal at times.
He stood in the lobby and observed the receptionist; she was never going to let him get past her if he tried to be normal.
The tall young man shrugged then super sped thru the lobby and up the switchback stairs that no one used.
He knew his way to Lionel's office, no need to wonder if he was going the right way. He stopped outside the door and peeked to see what was going on before he busted in, no point in making an ass of himself if Lex was not there.
His x-ray vision showed him Lex was indeed there and he had a gun in his pocket, Clark's heart fell. This was not going to be fun.
Ashley had said all Clark had to do was stall things for about a half an hour, then her cousin would be there.
Oh man, he had forgotten about that.
Correction: Ashley Embers begged Clark Kent to stop Lex Luthor from meeting with his father until Bruce Wayne got there... no one was ever going to believe this story.
Lex was moving across the room toward his father, well now was as good as ever. Clark pushed the doors open in what he hoped was a dramatic gesture.
Both Luthors turned to glare at the intrusion. Neither had expected to see Clark walk thru the door with a confused yet determined look on his face. Lex found his voice first.
"Clark, what are you doing here?" Lex barked his eyes dark with a fury Clark had never seen in his friend. The boy felt lost for a moment, he quickly found a witty comeback.
"A mutual friend was worried you may be making a mistake, Lex." He said with a small smile, hoping Lex would not flip the fuck out.
"Clark, you should not be here. It would be best if you left now." Lex said in a tired voice. Clark shook his head in a stubborn display.
"No, I promised her I would stay." He said looking Lex in the eye.
Lex made a frustrated face and turned back to his father. Lionel stood on the far side of his desk, arms crossed and his face a mask of condescension.
"Ah, the ever faithful Clark Kent, how is your mother, my dear boy?" Lionel asked with a cynical tone. Lex snarled and stepped between Clark and Lionel.
"You never quit do you, even when you know you are at the end of your bag of tricks...you still have to jab and poke. You're such a fucking soulless bastard." Lex snapped he reached into his pocket and pulled out the shiny silver gun. Clark shifted quickly to stand between Lex and Lionel.
"NO Lex, don't do this!" Clark bellowed. He held his hands out in a beseeching manner. "Whatever he has done, it's not worth losing yourself." He tried to catch Lex's eye. This was what Ashley had been afraid of, that Lex would let Lionel bring him down to this level.
"This is not what Ashley wants you to do...Lex, please look at me." Clark was pleading now. Lex raised his eyes to Clark's, a little communication passed between them, but not enough to make Lex drop the gun. Lionel made a play for control.
"Yes Alexander, don't be a fool, killing me will not solve anything." Lionel added with his typical sneer. Clark cast a furtive glace to the man.
"Shut up, Lionel!" he growled. "I am not here to save you, I am here to save Lex from becoming you!" Lex was getting fed up, he waved the gun in impatience.
"Clark, move, I am not going to kill him, just hurt him... a lot." Lex said with a wicked and malevolent ring to his words. Clark cocked his head and floundered for what to do.
"No Lex, you don't want to stoop to his level, think about what this will cost you." Clark was at the end of his rope. Suddenly a deep and smooth voice cut thru the room.
"Listen to the boy Lex, don't be your father's plaything. Put the gun down." Clark's eyes fell on the man who had spoken.
Tall, broad shouldered and even dapper, Bruce Wayne walked into the room as if it was a cocktail party. Clark was impressed by the man's confidence and demeanor. He walked up behind Lex and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on Lex, you know you will lose her if you do this." He said in a lower voice. Clark felt Lionel moving behind him, he looked back to see the man smirking at Bruce Wayne.
"My, this damsel has all the heroes out in force!" he said trying to fan the flames once again. "Tell me Wayne, how do you find time to womanize and fight the masked crazies of Gotham?" he was warming to his game, he moved out from behind the safety of Clark's body.
"Are you so sure of your skills that you don't believe one of them will get lucky one day and land a killing blow that even The Batman cannot recover from?" Lionel let the pieces fall, noting the farm boy flinch in his peripheral vision.
Bruce stared directly into Lionel's gray eyes, his anger plain on his face. He let his hand drop from Lex's shoulder and he moved to face the elder Luthor.
"I warned you Luthor, and you did not heed me. Now you will pay for it." Bruce said in a bleak voice.
Clark finally put the pieces together and realized that what Lionel was saying was that Bruce was Batman, his face showed his astonishment.
"Wait!" Clark's sharp tone stopped them all in their tracks. "This is stupid, Lex, put down the gun, and let's try to find the point where this all went off the deep end." He gave them all a calm and rational face. Lex shook his head.
"No Clark, he will never let it go. He crossed the point when he threatened her, when he made her so afraid she felt she could not tell me or Bruce." Lex leveled the gun at his father again. "I will not let you take her from me again." Lex said echoing Ashley's nightmare words. "
Bruce moved to stand next to Lex, his eyes blazing at Lionel. Clark was lost he did not know how he was going to diffuse this situation. Lionel smirked at his son and stepped closer.
"Lex, you don't have the balls to kill me. This is all bravado, there is nothing behind it, because there is nothing to the infatuation you have with this girl." He turned his back to Lex.
Clark saw Lex's jaw clench and he moved to stand between them once more. He looked at his friend and was chilled by the person he saw in Lex's place.
"Please, Lex." Clark attempted one more time. "Don't give in to his taunts. Listen to me, listen to him." He said gesturing to Bruce. "If you kill your father, you will lose Ashley, forever." Lex looked at Clark for a flickering moment.
"But If I don't, he will take her from me. Either way, Clark...he will cost me my happiness. Better I take it on my terms then let him dictate it." Lex's words froze Clark's blood.
How the Hell did you rationalize with that?
"Clark please move" Lex said with resignation in his tone. Clark shook his head stubbornly.
"No Lex, there has to be another solution to this." The boy said his voice nearing pleading once more. He wished he knew the right thing to say or do, but fear of using his gifts in front of both Luthors and Bruce kept him in check. He caught the movement from Bruce before Lex did.
Bruce reached to take the gun but he was not fast enough; letting out an irate growl Lex pushed him off with an elbow and took a few steps back. He gave an incredulous look to the two men trying to avert him from his goal.
"You don't get it!" Lex said his voice rising to a shout. "None of this will ever stop! He will not cease this torment until one of us is dead!" Lex's eyes took on a fevered shine and he gestured with the gun, beyond angry, beyond frustrated, he had reached his breaking point.
"I really don't want to be the one who winds up dead! Do you get me now?" Lex shouted, his heart showing at last. He felt the crushing weight of what he had to do.
He turned away from them, the pain in his chest was like an ice pick, and he knew he could not win this battle, not really. Either way he would lose.
They were right, if he committed patricide, Ashley would never be able to live with it, she would hate that he did it, even for her. Most likely, she would grow to hate him, and she would always be frightened of him.
He knew that Lionel would never leave them be, he would do anything and everything he could and it would drive a wedge between them. So in reality Lex was correct, either way Lionel would take Ashley from his son.
His father had already won. The agony of that knowledge burned in Lex's soul, he could not move away from the thought. Everyway his mind turned it scorched him and let it's presence be known, he would lose her no matter what he did.
The gun was heavy and solid in his hand; he theorized that if he shot Lionel and handled it properly he might have a small chance of making things right with Ash.
If Lionel went on making trouble, causing doubt and setting fear in her, there would never be the chance to repair the resentment that would grow. No, this was the lesser of the two evils Lex knew it in his heart.
He turned to face the three men once more and the look on Bruce's face stopped him cold. The raw emotion in the older man's eyes reflected his relation to Ashley, he held out his hand to Lex.
"There is another way to put an end to it, Lex." He said in a calm voice. "Give me the chance to share this idea with you, don't make this choice now. Your out of balance and not thinking clearly."
Bruce was giving his best shot at this; he prayed Lex would listen to him. Clark watched them stare at each other for several long seconds; he jumped when Lionel grunted to his right.
"Oh Mr. Wayne, I think you are forgetting one thing, I will expose you for the psychologically damaged individual you are, unless that little strumpet in gone from my son's life." He said with acid lacing his words.
Lex could see the transition clearly on Bruce's face, his brows fell and his eyes got so very dark. The younger Luthor watched in mild amusement as Bruce spun around and punched Lionel directly in the face.
The blow was hard and it knocked Lionel to the floor. Bruce stood over him, a towering figure seething with rage. Lionel stared up into the bare face of The Bat and felt a moments doubt.
"Do not test me, Luthor!" he hissed. "You don't want what I know about you to come to light. I suggest you drop that line of thinking here and now. This is the last time I will warn you." Bruce squared his shoulders and Lionel opened his mouth to speak. Bruce never gave him the chance.
"You will not use me as a tool to hurt Ashley or Lex. There are so many things I could do to you that would hurt far more then that gun in your son's hand." Bruce said coldly.
His eyes narrowed and Clark thought that for a moment he was going to kick Lionel. However, Bruce turned back to Lex, ignoring the bleeding man.
"Lex, will you come with me and let me show you another path?" Bruce asked. Lex looked from Bruce's determined face to Clark astonished expression to his father's flabbergasted eyes before he nodded. His hand dropped to his side and Bruce stepped forward taking the gun from him.
"This is the best way, trust me." Wayne said softly. Clark walked away from Lionel and put a hand on Lex's shoulder.
"You made the right choice, Lex. Let's get out of here." he cast a wary look at the elder Luthor who was climbing to his feet. "There is nothing more you need to say to him." Clark assured his friend.
Lex stood between the two and stared at his father, the ire was still there but the assurance of his defeat was not as sharp as before. If Bruce was right and there was another way to remove his father from his life then he would do it, no matter what it was.
For Ashley he would do anything.
"We'll be in touch, Dad." Lex said before turning and smiling bitterly to his friends. The three young men walked out of the cold office leaving Lionel to his own devices.
They exited the Luthor tower and stood in the fading sunlight looking at each other. Bruce gestured to the road.
"Did you bring a car?" he asked and Lex nodded. "Have someone bring it back, I have my jet." He said walking down the sidewalk.
Clark tagged along behind them feeling like a third wheel. Lex looked back at the boy and gave him a sideways smirk
"Thanks for coming, Clark." He tossed back. Clark looked up from his study of his shoes and that million-watt smile of his washed over his face.
"I'm just glad my dad and I were in the city so I could be here, Lex." Clark said with genuine emotion.
"Is your dad waiting for you?" he asked, Bruce seemed to suddenly remember that Clark was there.
He stopped walking and looked at the farm boy with his dark eyes. Clark flushed under the stare. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and tried to smile.
"Umm, Mr. Wayne, you don't have to worry about me...I-I would never tell anyone about w-what Lionel said up there." Clark said stumbling over his words. Bruce surveyed the boy for several more moments and then gave a curt nod.
"I believe you...Clark, is it?" he said arching a brow. Clark nodded hard and smiled again. Lex watched the exchange and took note of Bruce's acceptance of his friend.
"Well, Clark, like Lex asked, is your father waiting for you or will you be riding back with us?" Bruce asked his eyes still roaming over Clark. The boy shrugged and actually scuffed the pavement with his sneaker.
"No, I told him to go on home, I figured I would ride back with Lex, provided I had helped him." He said sheepishly. Bruce startled them both by laughing heartily.
"Well, you are welcome to join us." he turned and waved his hand to the limo across the street. He crossed his arms over his chest and Clark wondered for a moment where he had hidden Lex's gun.
"I hired this car, it will take us to the airport." Bruce said as the car pulled up and stopped next to them.
The driver hopped out and opened the door for them. Clark looked at Lex trying to gauge his friend's mood. Lex seemed to be very mellow now, almost the opposite of what he had been in the office.
As if sensing Clark's concern, Lex turned a smile to him before climbing into the car. Clark looked at Bruce and held out his hand.
"I just thought I should properly introduce myself, my mom would kill me for my bad manners." He said brightly.
"I'm Clark Kent." Bruce took the boy's hand and shook it firmly.
"Nice to meet you Clark, I'm Bruce Wayne."
xxxxxx
The streamlined jet was sleek and shiny; Clark had never seen an aircraft like it. His eyes wide, he followed Bruce and Lex up the stairs into the cabin of the jet. Lex nodded his approval to Bruce and found a seat.
"Very nice toy you have here, Bruce." Lex said his humor having returned a little. Clark sat next to Lex, folding his long form into the leather seat. Bruce came to a stop on his way to the cockpit, he threw Lex a smirk over his shoulder.
"It comes in handy for 'night flying'." He said slyly. Lex laughed and turned to Clark.
"Bruce has a strange sense of humor but it's funny non the less." He quipped as Clark looked around the dark leather appointed cabin. Lex chucked the boy on his knee.
"Earth to Clark, are you with us?" he said Clark blinked and flushed his every ready blush.
"Yeah, sorry I am just having a 'How did I get here?' moment." He smiled at his friend. "He seems like a good guy, is he really Ashley's cousin?" he dropped his voice and leaned closer. Lex laughed and nodded.
"Yes he is, and if you knew her better you'd see the family resemblance a lot faster." Lex said leaning back in the seat and rubbing his temples. Bruce returned and took a seat across from them.
"The trip should only take a half hour." He steepled his fingers before his chest and locked his gaze on Clark.
"Now Mr. Kent, tell me how you and Lex came to be such good friends."
xxxxxxx
Later that Evening: Luthor Castle
Ashley sat next to her cousin on the long leather couch in Lex's study. Bruce was explaining to Lex that he had done his own digging on Lionel Luthor and turned up some very damaging and disturbing information.
"What I found Lex, I don't know if you really want to know." He said looking the younger man in the eye. Lex returned his look with a cool continence.
"Can it get him sent away for life?" Lex asked rationally. Bruce gave a short nod."Then I want to know it all." He said leaning against his desk arms crossed over his chest.
Ashley watched him as Bruce told of how Lionel had conspired with a man named Morgan Edge to set a fire that killed the elder Luthor's in their beds, thus giving Lionel a nest egg to start his company.
The name Morgan Edge gave her a chill, he was a known gangster, a bad man with which to be associated. To know that Lionel had killed his parents for the insurance money made her feel ill. Lex took the news with great control, just that one muscle twitching in his jaw.
"I could not find the details because it was in sealed files in Metro City Hall, I figured you would be able to do something about that though." Bruce finished as Lex walked around to sit behind his desk. He leaned his elbows on the surface and held his head in his hands.
"Thank you for sharing this with me, Bruce. My best course of action now is to get the evidence and see that he is charged with murder." He raised his head and they could see a slight glimmer in his blue eyes. Ash shivered and pushed closer to her cousin, Bruce patted her arm.
"If you need my assistance any further just call." Bruce stood slowly holding Lex's gaze."I don't want to have a scare like this again, Lex. No matter what you find, please just call me before you run off half cocked like that." He finished and waited for Lex to acknowledge him. Lex held the long stare and gave Bruce a curt nod.
"Hopefully it will not come to that, but I understand what you are saying. Thank you for dropping everything once again and rushing to my aid." Lex's voice was almost sarcastic but not quite. Bruce's face tightened briefly and then he turned to Ashley. She hopped up and hugged him tight.
"You saved the day again, Bruce." She whispered. He kissed her on the temple and patted her back.
"You know how to get me no matter where I am." He whispered in return. Bruce left without further comment. Ash stood looking at Lex, her arms wrapped around her body, her eyes unsure.
Ash had been in a panic until Bruce had called her from the jet, telling her that everything was fine and they were coming back to Smallville. She paced the study for what felt like forever before they returned with Clark in tow.
Bruce and Clark told her what happened in turns, Lex strangely silent thru the recitation. He had greeted her worried look with a gentle kiss but did not speak at all. Once they had finished telling her the tale, Clark had left saying he was needed at the farm. When the boy had gone, Bruce asked her about him.
Ash had assured her cousin that Clark Kent was a trustworthy soul; she told him Clark had save Lex more the Bruce had in fact. They had visited for a bit before Lex and Bruce began the conversation about the evils of Lionel Luthor.
Shaking her self a little at the thought of Lionel, Ashley looked at Lex again; he was watching her in a predatory way. Eyes narrow, mouth in a straight line, hands folded before him.
"Lex." She said carefully. "Are you alright?" she asked knowing it was a stupid question. He blinked and rubbed his eyes for a moment and then rose from his chair to cross the marble floor and take her into his arms.
"Yes, Ashley, I am alright..." he leaned in and kissed her firmly. His mouth covering hers, taking possession of it, hands sliding down her back in covetous motions. She melted into his embrace, desire pushing the fear back as he searched her mouth.
Lex let the pent up emotions take over as he guided her to the couch once more, pressing her back into the upholstery while their bodies rubbed against each other. His lips burned a path down her throat, his fingers slipped under the thin fabric of her blouse. The touch of his hands eliciting thrills and shivers from her body.
He unbuttoned her shirt with quick fingers, the alabaster skin quivering as his mouth nibbled and kissed across her ribs. Her back arched to his caresses as her hands traced the edges of his jaw moving back around his head. She held him to her abdomen sighing deep in her chest.
The heart rending fear Lex had felt since the night before now drove him to show her what she meant to him, how much he needed and wanted her. A primal urge drove him to tare at her clothing, he heard the delicate fabric ripping under his frantic fingers.
Ashley gasped as his kisses and caresses got more intense, he was more demanding and aggressive, trepidation zinged thru her mind as she gave into his domination of her. Something was...different...maybe wrong.
Lex's heated breath burned against her neck and he moved her now unclothed body until she was sitting with her shoulders against the back of the couch. He quickly yanked off his pants and grabbed her knees parting them for his hips.
As he thrust in, her head lolled back and she moaned. Losing himself in the wet heat of her, he dug his fingers into the pliable leather of the sofa back and began to fuck her hard.
His movements were almost desperate and definitely hungry. His mouth taking possession of her right nipple, teasing the tender nub with his teeth drew louder moans from her lips.
He looked up at her half lidded eyes, her fingers clinging to his ribs holding on as he made her submit to his passion.
"Look at me." He growled. Her eyes fluttered open and she locked her green gaze on him. His hips drove into her faster and she was suddenly chilled by the depth of the darkness she saw in his blue eyes.
The abyss opened in him and she stared into it, her soul felt drained.
Who was this man?
This was not the Lex she knew and loved; the man taking her with a primal instinct was an all-together different Lex.
He reached down and grasped her hands, as if he sensed her growing fear. His fingers held her wrists tight as he pushed her hands back behind her head, making her all the more vulnerable and open to his lust.
Her heart was sinking fast she looked away from his eyes, unable to take the blackness she saw. Lex curled his lip in a sneer as he bucked against her hips harder.
His climax was approaching and he had lost focus on whether or not she was going with him. She turned her face away as he came into her, this was all wrong, he had changed and not for the better.
xxxxxx
Gotham City: The Bat Cave
The slight echoes of the twittering bats no longer distracted Bruce; it was actually a comfort, to be honest. He felt at home as if he were among his own kind...and to a point he was.
Tapping away at the keyboard, he flipped thru numerous files on Lionel Luthor, Lex Luthor and both companies. The brush in Lionel's office had left Bruce feeling a little suspicious.
When he had looked into Lex's eyes, for several minutes he had been certain that Lex had finally slipped off that precipice. That Lionel's evil had at last taken root and infected Lex's mind and soul. Bruce had feared that he might not be able to bring Lex back from the edge, even with the farm boy's help.
And what about that farm boy, Clark Kent?
Bruce started a new search in his database as he pondered the story Clark had told him. The curious thing had been the doubtful look on Lex's face, as if he did not fully agree with the facts Clark was relaying.
The boy had said he was walking across the bridge when Lex's car had hit an obstruction in the road, veered off into the guardrail and plummeted into the river. He said he had jumped in and pulled the unconscious Lex out and revived him.
All very believable, except for the expression on the young billionaire's face. That look is what made Bruce delve into the history of Clark Kent.
The massive computers clicked and whirred, the electronic impulses searching the world for anything about the tall handsome boy from Smallville. There were many hits related to the high school paper, most written by a girl named Chloe Sullivan.
Bruce found that Clark had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, a talent for saving people when they needed help the most. It was as if the boy knew when he was needed, with an almost miraculous sense of timing.
The boy appeared to be a natural hero; he seemed to have the instinct of a champion. This fact intrigued Bruce immensely. He thought back to the way the boy had behaved in the office, putting himself between Lex and Lionel, was it his confidence that his friend would not shoot him?
No, Bruce thought it was something more, as if Clark did not fear the gun, as if he was sure it could not hurt him.
Bruce had noticed the way Lionel had looked at Clark as well, like he was a bug under a microscope. That had not slipped Bruce's attention, though he had not thought on it until now.
He entered the new search parameters and thought again about the heroic young man. Something otherworldly about him, almost preternatural, that Bruce could not pin down.
Truth be told there was very little that got by Bruce, he noticed things most people never saw. The computer beeped and he looked up from his musing to read the search results.
Clark Kent was adopted and the adoption was a little on the slap dash side. Bruce followed the evidence trail.
There was something strange, something that did not add up. The boy seemed to have come from thin air...odd. Bruce continued his search. Alfred came up behind him with a tray of food.
"Sir, I wonder if you are willing to eat something before you go out for the night." The butler said setting the tray next to Bruce.
"Yes, Alfred...I will...tell me do you think this looks like the kind of face that could hide a tremendous secret?" he asked turning the monitor toward the older man.
Alfred leaned over and peered into the image of Clark Kent. The boy grinned his dazzling and innocent grin, Alfred clucked his tongue.
"After being around for the growth of yourself and Miss Ashley, I would believe anyone could keep a 'tremendous secret'." He said straightening up and giving Bruce a sarcastic smile. The Batman laughed and turned his chair, looking at the sparse, high nutrition fare that Alfred had provided him, knowing that Bruce would eat little else.
"Thank you, Alfred." He said before tucking into his miso soup. The butler shook his head and turned away.
"Have a safe night, Master Bruce." He said before slipping thru the hidden door.
After finishing his meal Bruce skimmed over the information he had collected on Clark. Yes, this farm boy was much more then he seemed, and if Bruce knew Lex at all, this had not escaped his attention. Maybe he would have to make another trip to Smallville, make a visit to the Kent family farm.
Another thought lit Bruce's mind, if Lex was curious about Clark then no doubt Lionel had noticed as well, that could be dangerous for the boy and his family. That settled it for Bruce; he would be making another trip to see the Kent boy and to make himself a trusted friend to Clark.
After all Clark did know Bruce's secret, fair is fair...right?