Lex's car skidded to a stop in the Kent farm driveway. The dust was still settling as he stepped out of the car and headed towards the farmhouse kitchen. Clark and his parents were inside. 'No doubt having a family values moment' Lex briefly thought letting jealousy get the better of him.
"Knock, knock." He announced his presence as he opened the screen door.
"Lex." Jonathon acknowledge him with a blank tone.
"Mr. Kent." Lex responded trying not to sound too disappointed or surprised at the cold greeting.
Martha looked between them giving Jonathon a disapproving squint. "Hi there Lex." She smiled warmly as she moved around the kitchen table to gently squeeze his arm in welcome. "Can I get you anything? Something to drink maybe?"
Lex smiled briefly at the affection that was so rarely extended to a Luthor. "Thanks anyway Mrs. Kent, I just stopped by to talk to Clark." He turned his glance to Clark, "Got a minute?"
"Sure." Clark smiled genuinely at his recently made friend. It had only been a few months since Clark had pulled Lex from his car in the river. Since then the two had shared a unique bond that was hard to describe. Lex was a pretty low maintenance friend, all his other friends needed constant attention and time invested into the friendship. Lex was different. He didn't need anything from Clark, days could go by without the two talking but when they did it seemed like they had just spoke.
They crossed the field into the barn and headed up the stairs.
Lex crossed the loft and started admiring the telescope. Clark moved in beside him and attempted to subtly move the telescope from its current position.
Lex smiled, looking up at Clark. "Still spying on the lovely Miss Lang are we?"
Clark grinned sheepishly and looked away, showing obvious guilt. "Umm, what is it you need to talk to me about Lex?"
"I'm headed to Metropolis for a few days and I was wondering if you wanted to come in on Wednesday night for the ball game?"
"Hardly something you couldn't ask me in front of my parents Lex." Clark probed suspcisously.
Lex smiled again, "Can you blame me, I know your father's position on accepting gifts from a Luthor."
"Lex."
"Okay, okay. I wanted to give you this."
Lex reached into his pocket pulling out a slip of paper and a key.
"Lex, what is this?"
"It's a key to my safety deposit box in Metropolis."
"Why are you giving it to me?" Clark asked, his dark eyebrows drawing together in confusion.
"I know this may sound silly, especially to someone with a family like yours, but I think my father is up to something."
"Lex you can't be serious."
"I know it sounds paranoid but you don't know the lengths my father will go to ensure that I fall into step with his public and corporate image."
"What do you think he is up to?"
"I don't know, it's just a feeling that I have." Lex walked over to the couch and sat down, adjusting his suit jacket as he sat.
"So what's in it?" Clark asked as he toyed with the key in his hand.
Lex smiled again, marveling at how easy it was to smile around Clark. "The paper is all the information that you will need to locate the box. The key opens it."
"I figured that much out, what is in the box?"
"Some information on my father that I am pretty sure he wouldn't want hitting the papers." Lex looked at Clark's confusion written across his face,"I need to ask you a favour Clark."
"Lex, I don't think-"
"Look, all I am asking is that if something does happen to me, you use this as leverage to help me out. If you are right and I am being paranoid then you won't ever have to use it. If I am right then at least it will help roll the ball back into my court so to speak."
Lex felt the need to keep talking when he didn't see the look of compliance on Clark's face. "Just hang on to it. If you don't need it, great. If you do, at least you have it if you need it. It is really important to me to know that someone I trust has access to that box."
"Okay, okay Lex." Clark's smile returned replacing the look of concern. "I'll hang on to it. Now about that ball game."
"Wednesday night, 8 pm, front row seats. How 'bout it?"
"Where should I meet you?"
"Meet me at my apartment at around seven. I'll have the cook make up a light dinner before we head to the stadium."
Clark's eyes lit up causing Lex to laugh out loud, he wasn't sure if Clark's excitement was do to promise of a meal cooked by his chief or the game itself.
"I'll see you on Wednesday." Lex stood patting Clark on the shoulder as he walked past and down the stairs to his car. As he hit the bottom stair he turned and called up the stairs, "Take good care of my stuff."
"You got it!" Clark called back down the stairs.
