Lex was pretty groggy when he woke up alone in the all too familiar room. He was chained back up to the floor and all the links he had sacrificed to earn it the past week were gone. He was again naked and face down on the floor unable to move his head to the other side.
He groaned with the memory of how he had gotten back to this position. He felt a chill create goose bumps across his skin and shivered slightly. The thought of the room that awaited him as a prize for his good behavior sickened him. He had strived to achieve the promise of something better than where he currently was. He wasn't so sure that that was in fact the case.
He had to admit that the apartment had a certain appeal in that it looked cozy and held certain comforts that Lex desired. On the other hand there was the glass window that Lex would forever know was there. He would always wonder who was watching him. Whether it was sleeping, showering or cooking he would always wonder what watchful eyes were on him.
As the son of Lionel Luthor Lex had become accustomed to people watching him but at least he had the piece of mind in knowing when he wanted to be alone he could be. He valued his privacy and if nothing else this room provided that. In here he was surrounded by four solid walls and not part of the sick zoo that awaited him.
He closed his eyes with a quiet sigh when he finally heard the door open. He vaguely remembered spitting in Joshua's face and he fully expected to feel the wrath of his 'new owner'. He tried not to hold his breath and opened his eyes to stare at the highly polished black shoes that were at his eye level.
He jumped with a start when he heard a voice he hadn't expected.
"Hello son." Lionel's voice filled the bare room like the devil at the gates of heaven.
Lex didn't answer; he really wasn't sure what to say. He could pretend that he wasn't naked and chained to the floor or he could beg his father to bring him home. He chose to do neither and waited for his father's next move.
"Looks like thing aren't going to good for you in your new life." Lionel observed as his shoes disappeared behind Lex, which he found especially unnerving.
He jerked when he felt his father's fingers run across his shoulder blade and come to rest on his neck beside his artery. "Back into the drugs again are we?" Lionel mocked noting the bruising of the needle as Lex fought pitifully to try and move away.
"It pains me to see you like this Lex."
"Does it really dad?" Lex spat back disbelievingly.
"Why don't you just accept your new lot in life and enjoy what you have available to you? You don't like all the work necessary to run in the business lane. Here you can have everything you desired but without the work involved in achieving it."
"I conducted my business and was making gains at the plant. You didn't have to do this?" Lex attempted to remain calm.
"Is that right?"
"Yes that's right. You can still undo this dad. I get the point. No more partying, no more messing around, I'll come to meetings; I'll put in the hours. I'll do what you want me to do just bring me home. Please."
"Ohh Lex if only it were that easy. I gave you every opportunity to show me you could be the son I always wanted. Since you have been gone Lucas has stepped in nicely and is fitting in well with his new role."
"You win dad. Whatever you want I'll do it. If it means working directly under your supervision, hell I'll even work for Lucas but I need to go home." Lex felt the shakiness of desperate pleading threatening to enter his voice. He did know if he wanted to show that weakness but decided now was the time to pull out all the stops.
"I'm sorry son but this is it for you."
"Go home then dad." Lex whispered blantly, voice shaking slightly in disbelief and despair. The tears filled his eyes quickly and poured over down his face. In a short time Lionel had managed to make him feel worse in this situation than he ever thought possible.
"I'm afraid I won't be going anywhere without your signature on a few documents. Seems you didn't put your dear old dad in your will, a fact that will be rectified before I leave you to your new life."
Lex laughter mixed with a sob that escaped his throat unchecked. How the hell had he got here again? He was now more determined than ever to fight his way back to Metropolis and denounce Lionel in front of the entire city for what he really was.
"I'm not signing anything." He finally declared.
"Are you sure about that son?"
"Don't call me that! You don't get to call me that anymore! You're not my father!"
"Is there anything I can do or say that would change your mind and get you to sign these papers?" Lionel asked as he dropped the papers on the floor at Lex's face.
"Get out!" Lionel repeated.
"Too bad really." Lionel mumbled as he picked up the papers and turned on his heels and stared towards the door. "Poor Clark."
"What?" That got Lex's attention. "What did you just say?"
"Oh, I believe I said poor Clark."
"What are you talking about poor Clark?"
"It seems your young friend is more persistent than I had given him credit for. He insisted that he come here today. I am sure he will be disappointed when he realizes that he won't be seeing you."
Lex's heart rate sped up dramatically and he could feel his heart beating in his ears. "Where is he? What have you done to him?"
"Relax Lex. I left him asleep in your apartment."
Lex searched his memory trying to figure out where Lionel was talking about when it hit him suddenly. The realization of where Clark was hit Lex like a hammer. The fear for his friend was instant and he felt the adrenaline serge through his body.
"Dad-"
"Relax Lex I'm sure he will be fine as long as you work with me to ensure his safety."
"Take him home dad. Take him home right now."
"I'm afraid it's too late for that Lex. Now what happens to him while he is here is in your hands. Sign the papers and no harm will come to him while I am here. Don't sign the papers and I can assure you that Mr. Kent will surely suffer."
"I sign the papers and he goes home. That's the deal."
"No Lex, you don't make the deals anymore. I am afraid that the deal is much more limited than that. You sign the papers and Clark lives beyond today. Don't sign the papers and Clark will feel every moment of his death and you will be front row and center to see it happen. This country has some unique methods of ensuring that people suffer before they die."
"What happens to him once I sign the papers?" Lex dreaded the answer.
"He will remain here and Joshua will decide his fate. Unfortunately due to your selfishness you have brought your young friend into this predicament with you. Now you will need to negotiate the terms of his future with your owner."
"Don't call him that." Lex's voice sounded pathetic even to his own ears. The fight was almost gone from him and with Clark to worry about now he knew he had to watch his step more closely, his defiance had consequences all right and now those consequences had become too great to tempt.
"Sign the papers Lex, think of your friend."
"Fine." Lex sighed deeply as the bitter words escaped from his lips, "But I want to see Clark first." He added as an afterthought.
Lionel stepped back as a second set of feet fell on the concrete floor. Joshua knelt in front of him and unlocked the chain from around his neck. Embarrassment flooded his cheeks with blood with the realization that Lionel had not been the only witness to his final surrender.
He was helped to his feet and secured in place when he wobbled slightly. Once he became accustom to standing again he was left to his own defenses. Joshua threw some pants at Lex and he quickly put them on. He was dismayed to see that the pants were not his own. The pants he had donned were brightly colored harem type pants and he was offered no shirt.
"Get used to them as this will be your new attire." Joshua informed when he saw the look of question on Lex's face.
"Clark." Lex reminded.
"Come with me and if you pull another stunt like yesterday I will kill your young friend am I clear?"
"Crystal." Lex answered sarcastically.
He was lead down the various hallways and tried hard to memorize the route as they walked. He honestly couldn't remember having walked this way yesterday until they entered the library, which was the only place that looked familiar.
They walked through the library and entered the 'zoo' through the door in the back corner. The smell and heat again assaulted Lex's senses as he tried not to look in the windows that lined the hallway. He didn't want to feed into the spectator sport that this wing was designed for.
Lionel on the other hand was fascinated by the various windows and the specimens within. This only served to feed into Joshua's desires to discuss the wing, the animals and his collection. It annoyed Lex to no end and humiliated him with the realization that his enclosure would undoubtedly draw this type of interest from others.
Lionel whistled loudly as they approached the windows to Lex's apartment. "Very impressive." He praised Joshua as he ran his finger along the window to the living room. He had not seen this side of the apartment since Joshua had brought them around to the door along the back wall of the kitchen.
Clark was sleeping inside and from the looks of it he was somewhat restless in his sleep. His face was strained with what looked like pain or concern.
"What did you do to him?" Lex accused.
"I assure you we did nothing to him." Joshua paused briefly before adding, "Yet."
"Isn't he beautiful." Joshua added as he watched Clark intently. "I can't decide if he would make the perfect companion for you as the second male in the collection or if I should sell him to a friend who is in need of a concubinus."
"You son of a-"
"Language Lex, don't make me have to remind you of your manners in front of your father." He saw that his words had subdued Lex so he continued on, "As I was saying, I can't decide. I guess I will leave that decision somewhat up to you. I will base my decision on your behavior over the next little while. If you behave yourself he will be your reward. If you don't then he will be sold to the highest bidder."
"You can't sell a human being. He doesn't belong to you. He doesn't belong to anyone." Lex argued.
"Well normally that would be true but I am afraid that there is no record of your friend being here or being in the country for that matter. No one will find him much like all the other young people who are sold into the black market or the sextrade."
"His parents will look for him."
"His parents will think that he went out of the country with you Lex. Unfortunately for the two of you there is going to be an accident on your flight and neither of you will survive."
"They'll never believe it." Lex was sure of it.
"Oh but they will with these." Lionel held up a clip with papers in it. "On the way here Clark signed some release papers agreeing to travel over seas with you. He figured he was signing papers to come see you but I replaced the document with the exception of the final signed page and voila he is off on a trip with you."
"Clark." Lex shook his head as he looked sadly through the glass at his friend who was still sleeping and completely oblivious of his current situation.
"I think we have seen enough, don't you?" Joshua turned his attention both men. "I believe that you have some signing to do."
With that the three men turned to walk back down the hall. Lex took a little more time as he tried to watch Clark until the last possible minute.
