"Your father called today." Joshua announced as he entered the bedroom where Lex was waiting.

"Lucky you." Lex flippantly shot back as he slowly stood up from the couch along the wall.

"Funny thing though, he never asked about you."

"That's not surprising." Lex remarked trying not to look the least bit hurt. He never could shut his feelings towards his father off. He always had secretly hoped that his father would one day embrace him and accept him, now was no different and Lex hated himself for it.

Joshua closed the distance between them and walked around Lex so he was standing directly behind him. Lex breathed out slowly and closed his eyes when he felt Joshua's hands settle on his shoulders and start to kneed the muscles.

He winced slightly as the fingers dug circles into his sore muscles. He was lucky that Clark had saved him when he did or he would be a lot worse off. As it was he was sore but it would pass.

"Where is Clark?"

"Why should you care? The boy lies to you. He avoids telling you his secrets. He doesn't let you in. Not much of a friend if you ask me."

"I didn't ask you." Lex winced again as Joshua's fingers hit a particularly large knot on his back.

"You know that we can work together on this don't you?"

"On what?"

"On Clark's secret." He leaned in and kissed the back of Lex's neck gently.

"Clark's secret is his secret. He'll tell me when he is ready and then it will be our secret." Lex spoke through gritted teeth as he willed himself not to pull away from the attempted intimacy.

"And what exactly does that mean." His anger coming through in the strength of the massage.

"It means I am not going to help you get Clark's secret. He has reasons for not telling you." Lex breath through the words as the pain of the massage shot through his shoulders.

"So he must have a reason for not telling you also?" Joshua pushed as he abandoned the massage and crossed in front of Lex.

Lex stared him in the eyes as he replied, "He must."

"You are foolish. You trust him too much and you do not take advantage of his loyalty to you."

"Did it ever occur to you that is why he shows loyalty to me?"

"Watch your tone!" Joshua warned loudly causing Lex to pull back slightly.

He cringed as Joshua's hand reached up and slowly his fingers ran across Lex's lips. "You're sure you don't want to cooperate with me on this?"

"Clark is my friend. I won't trick him into telling me so that I can ultimately betray him and tell you."

"Well then I guess we have come to an impasse." He whispered as he leaned forward and began to kiss Lex deeply. Lex closed his eyes and tried to pretend he was anywhere but here. He knew what was coming but he hoped inwardly that something would happen to stop it.

"You are so beautiful when you are willing." Joshua leaned in and started kissing Lex's neck and collarbone as his hands drifted down to rest on his lower back.

Lex regretted the sound of disgust that his throat made the minute he realized he had made it. Joshua pulled back and glared at him momentarily before his fist drew back and he punched Lex in the stomach.

"What is wrong with you?" Joshua yelled down at Lex who had doubled over and was protecting his stomach.

"Nothing." Lex coughed with the effort of trying to answer.

"That's not good enough!" Joshua shouted as he grabbed Lex and pushed him into the wall.

"I'm, I'm sorry." Lex struggled to stand straight and regain his breath.

"Are you?" Joshua snarled as he moved inches from Lex's face, pinning his shoulders against the wall as he did. "I am trying to make this night enjoyable. I have ignored your attempted rebellion. I should make you pay for your friends actions but I am trying to be nice!"

Lex turned his face away in an attempt to avoid angering Joshua any more. Joshua released him and took a step backwards.

"Your father wants me to come visit him tomorrow. Would you like to join me?" His tone softening somewhat.

"No." Lex answered quickly.

"I'm surprised. I thought you would want to see your dear old dad, maybe look for a chance to try and escape again."

"I don't want to see him." Lex's voice taking on its usual strength.

"Good thing it isn't about what you want." Joshua leaned in again and grabbed the back of his skull pulling him in for another deep kiss.

When he was done he pulled away and tapped Lex gently on the face before turning and walking towards the center of the room.

Lex stood still, not moving from his place against the wall. He didn't dare to push Joshua's anger too far and it infuriated him to feel that way.

"Come here." Joshua's voice was gentle.

"Come here!" Joshua yelled at Lex who had hesitated too long.

Lex pushed himself off the wall and willed himself to cross the room. He stopped when he was standing directly in front of Joshua.

"You are going to help me. Whether you want to or not. In a few hours I will be leaving to meet with your father. You have until I return tomorrow evening to get Clark to open up to you."

"Why? Why do you want to know so badly? Why can't you just leave him alone?" Lex's voice was pleading now.

"With great ability comes great power. I believe your friend has great abilities. My money and influence give me great power but there is so much more to be had. So much that money alone cannot buy. I am curious to learn all there is about the species in my collection."

Lex's face showed the disgust he was feeling as he stood staring at Joshua.

"Don't look at me like that." Joshua shook his finger at Lex, "You want to know just as badly as I do. I did some digging and it seems you have been investigating your young friend. I wonder does he know?"

Lex's eyes darted up in surprise causing Joshua to laugh at his reaction. "As I said, I like to learn all there is to know about the species in my collection."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Does he know?"

"No." Lex reluctantly admitted.

"Interesting. How do you think he would feel to know that his best friend was secretly betraying him? May be I should tell him while he is under the influence of the red meteor rocks. His reaction would be interesting, don't you think?"

Lex didn't respond. He knew it would be pointless, Joshua would tell Clark if he wanted to regardless of what Lex said.

"Seems you have a secret you don't want out. If you don't have some insight into Clark's secret by the time I return tomorrow I will have to let him in on your little secret."

Lex still said nothing as he stood staring at Joshua willing himself not to show the hatred he was feeling.

Joshua didn't wait for acknowledgement that his words were in fact understood as he stepped in and placed both hands on Lex's shoulders. He gently guided him backwards until Lex felt the edge of the bed connect with the back of his legs.

"Lay down." He ordered gently.

"Please don't." Lex whisper quietly speaking to the actions he knew were to come.

"Shh." Joshua lulled as he led Lex's down onto the bed and followed him down. He slowly began kissing Lex's mouth and softly running his fingertips across Lex's chest.

When Joshua finally abandoned Lex's mouth Lex turned to stare blankly at the wall. His eyes watered as he resigned himself to what would happen next. He heard the harsh words that he had spoken to Clark run through his head over and over again 'You know this is going to happen. I know this is going to happen. There is nothing we can do and I don't want to hear it'.

He braced himself for the inevitable when he felt his legs being spread and the heat of Joshua's mouth connect with his groin. Joshua hovered there briefly placing kisses along Lex's now erect penis before he settled into position, knelt between Lex's legs.

"Look at me." Joshua's voice filled the silence.

Lex felt one tear roll down his cheek before his eyes cleared up and were filled with hatred again. He turned and stared up at Joshua.

"Don't give me that look." Joshua snapped as he lined up with Lex's hole and pushed in roughly.

Lex drew in a deep breath as the pain of no preparation seared through him.

"There are millions of people like you, you know?" He paused as he shoved in again and again.

"Millions of beautiful men and women are taken from their lives and forced to live a life filled with unwanted sex. The difference between them and you is that you hold a prestigious place in my care. You could easily be sold to someone who wouldn't care for you the way that I do." He stopped speaking as his orgasm shot through his body.

Lex watched on in disgust, feeling dirty and used for the hundredth time since arriving here. He knew Joshua was right; there were thousands of people who became victims of underground sex trade operations. He was no different; he had become one of those victims. One of those people who were used and abused for the enjoyment of another. He doubted very much though that many were sold into that life by their own fathers.

Joshua settled in beside Lex and took his hand, placing it on his own still erect penis. With Lex's hand in his, Joshua started to stroke Lex's penis. Once Lex adopted the rhythm he set Joshua released Lex's hand and urged him to continue on his own.

"Come for me." He whispered into Lex's ear as he licked the lobe to the same rhythm as the strokes.

Lex took a while but eventually he came on his stomach. He felt sick, he felt like his body had betrayed him.

"Is that what you want? Do you want to be sold to someone else?"

"No." Lex answered honestly. He didn't dare add that he didn't want to be sold at all, to anyone.

"Think about that tomorrow when you are back with your so called friend." Joshua purred into the crook of Lex's neck.

Lex tensed up when Joshua sat up and gently grasped both his wrist. He brought them up over Lex's head and Lex's heard the click of the handcuffs being set in place at the same time as he felt the cold metal press into his skin.

He tested them against the post of the headboard and looked nervously at Joshua.

"I wish for you to spend the rest of the evening with me. It wouldn't do for you to escape while I slept." Joshua explained as he wiped at Lex's stomach with a cloth from the side table.

Once Lex was cleaned up Joshua turned him onto his side and snuggled in behind him. Lex felt claustrophobic as Joshua's hand came to rest across his hip.

"Things could be so good between us if you would just cooperate." Joshua whispered as he settled in.

The evening dragged on as Lex drifted in and out of sleep. He was awoken every time Joshua moved even the slightest. Midway through the evening Joshua had woken and taken his liberties with Lex again. Lex had been roused awake when he felt himself being flipped onto his back and the weight of Joshua pushed him further into the mattress.

In the morning Joshua dressed in preparation for his flight to meet with Lionel and Lex watched on still handcuffed to the bed. He felt even more like a possession when Joshua left the room without so much as acknowledging his presence or indicating when he would be released.

He lay on the bed and waited for what must have been a good hour before the guards came to get him. They released him and tossed his pants at his chest as he sat up and attempted to regain blood flow to his limbs.

He dressed as quickly as he could and rose to follow the guards out of the room. He had no doubt about where he was headed. He thought about his position as he walked down the hallways towards the apartment. His anger began to flare as he thought about all he had been subjected to since his arrival. Joshua thought he could control him and he almost could. Lex felt ashamed of his weakness and inability to stand up to Joshua.

As he walked he thought about Clark and his secret. He wanted to know Clark's secret just as much as Joshua did and if he was honest with himself he had to admit that it was control and power that drove him in his desire. If Clark had the abilities that Lex predicted he did and he could harness them Lex could conquer his father and possibly go even farther than that.

By the time he had reached the apartment door he had reached the point where he felt there was only one way to defy Joshua and prove to himself once and for all that Clark's friendship meant more to him than learning his secret. He would risk Joshua's wrath by not taking the allotted time today to learn Clark's secret. He was sure that Joshua wouldn't follow through with his threat to sell him to another. His collection meant too much to him to part with one of his species.

Lex needed to believe that he was different than Joshua, he didn't need to know, and he needed to tell himself that he didn't want to know.

The door to the apartment opened and Lex was concerned with scene that met him. Clark was asleep on the floor against the wall. He looked bruised and there was dried blood on the floor and on his face and hands.

"Clark!" Lex called as he hurried across the apartment. The fact that the guards had left the room and the door locked behind them went unnoticed by Lex as he knelt down at his friend's side. "Clark!"

Clark woke slowly and looked up at Lex.

"Are you okay?" Lex asked as Clark's eyes focused in on him finally.

"I was going to ask you that." Clark answered with as much concern.

"I'm fine Clark."

"Joshua said that he was going to punish you for my rebellion." Clark's voice was hoarse as he sat up never looking away from Lex as he examined him for telltale signs of abuse.

"Yeah well, I'm fine." Lex repeated, assuring him as he settled in next to Clark against the wall. "What happened here?" He asked looking at the dried blood.

"Three guesses and the last two don't count." Clark tried to joke lightly. "So he didn't punish you?" He added after a brief moment of silence.

"Not anymore than what I would have expected for much less." Lex responded honestly.

"Lex there is something I want to tell you." Clark stared staring at the floor as he considered his words carefully.

"I don't want to know Clark." Lex interrupted.

"What?"

"I don't want to know about your secret." Lex repeated stronger in his conviction.

"But I want you to know. You deserve to know."

"No, I don't." Lex sighed not quite ready to confess all his sins and tell Clark that he had started to have him investigated. After all he was entitled to his secrets also. Joshua would no doubt tell Clark but Lex just wanted this day to be like all the rest. He would learn Clark's secret and Clark would no doubt hate him for his but at least today they could spent oblivious.

"Besides that's what Joshua wants. He wants me to find out what your abilities are and tell him. I don't want that kind of responsibility for your future. You tell him when you have reached your threshold. I don't want to be the one that tells him."

"Lex you can't risk defying him for me, I won't let you."

"I can and I will. If he wants to kill me then so be it. I would rather that then sell out my only friend."

"What if I just tell you and you don't tell him."

"No Clark." Lex's voice took on a serious tone. "I don't want you to tell me. I couldn't live with myself if I let it slip in a moment of weakness."

"I don't understand, you wanted to know so badly the last few days, why the change of heart?"

"Because before last night it was me who wanted to know. Now it is him who wants to know through me."

"What if he-"

"What if he what Clark? He won't kill me. He won't get rid of me. But more importantly he won't set either of us free so what does it matter if he knows or not. I know you Clark. I know you won't let him hurt me to get to you. You tell him, and me for that matter, when you are ready."

Clark sat silently trying to process Lex's twisted request. He thought about the conclusion he had reached last night and that was to play the game with Lex, not against him. This was Lex's request and his next move in the game and Clark decided to stick with his decision to make the move with Lex. He got the distinct feeling that this was Lex's small way of showing defiance in a seemingly totally controlled situation.

Lex finally stood and went to the kitchen returning with a warm damp cloth. He crouched down in front of Clark and wiped away the dried blood on his forehead and beneath his nose. "You look like shit."

"I feel like it to." Clark smiled up at him.

"Why don't you get in the shower and I'll find us something to eat." As if on cue Clark's stomach growled loudly.

"That sounds like a terrific idea." Clark agreed as he stood up feeling slightly dizzy.

He stopped at the door to the bedroom and turned back to face Lex. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing I can't handle." Lex replied as he closed the fridge and looked at his friend who seemed shockingly young standing there.

"You do know I want to tell you?" Clark confirmed.

"I know." Lex replied as he gave him a slight smile that Clark took that to be a dismissal and the end of the conversation.