Chapter Twenty-Two

"Do you want me to join you?" Lex asked as the car stopped at their destination.

"No." Clark sighed. He fidgeted in the car seat. Wearing a graphic t-shirt for this didn't feel right, so he was wearing a red button-down shirt and black pants. They weren't uncomfortable, but the clothes didn't feel natural either. "I feel like I need to do this alone."

"Of course. I'll be here if you need me."

Clark exited the car, carrying a bouquet of lilies. He was at a graveyard and walked down the row of tombstones before arriving at one that read "Lionel and Lillian Luthor".

He placed the lilies inside the empty vase next to it.

"I don't remember either of you," Clark confessed to the tombstone. "I mean, I do a little. I saw you, Lionel, a few times anyway. But I don't remember you as a Father or a Mother. I don't remember us doing anything together. Going to baseball games. Family dinners. But I guess it would be more corporate parties or swimming with great white sharks from what Lex says.

"You didn't have to raise me as a son. You could have kept me in a lab. Lex says I spent a lot of time there, but I had my own room at the mansion. I was tutored there. I had video games. Those were things you didn't have to do if I was only an experiment. Lex says that you meant to control me. But, you had me painted in the family portraits. I'd like to think that maybe that meant you loved me. Just a little. So, thank you."

Clark touched the stone to say farewell to the only parents he had and would never know.

He returned to the limo and could tell Lex was upset. It was just the tiniest clenching of the jaw. Anyone could easily miss it if they weren't looking. Or if they didn't have heightened eyesight. "What's wrong?"

"He doesn't deserve it!" Lex snapped. "He was a monster. He treated you like a lab rat. He killed his parents for money. He…"

"He was our dad."

"No! Dads don't do what he did."

Clark didn't know what to say to make Lex feel better. He remembered though how neither did Lex at times. Instead, Lex would hug him. Clark pulled Lex across the seat and drew him into a tight hug. Lex was bald, but he wondered if petting his head would be soothing. Clark didn't remember ever doing it before. He tried it; Lex's head was smooth and radiated a small warmth from his body heat.

Lex chuckled at the touch. "If it's too weird, you don't have to."

"I don't mind."

"That's what Mom used to do when I was upset. I would sit on her lap; she'd hold me and stroke my hair. I used to have red hair. She stopped when I lost it."

"That's awful." Maybe changing the subject will help. "Before you mentioned how I saved your life. I remember doing it a few times, but I don't know which one you meant."

Lex straightened back up in the seat. "Helen."

"You mean Dr. Bryce? She tried to kill you?"

"Not exactly. Our paths crossed when I was at school in Metropolis. She was nice. Beautiful. Smart. Challenging. We started seeing each other. I thought I had found someone who loved me for me and didn't care about my money or the Luthor name. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.

"Instead of congratulations from you and Lionel, you both told me how I was making a mistake. Naturally we fought and I went on with the preparations. As I was getting ready for the rehearsal dinner, you played a video of you and Helen alone in a room. You hit on her. Said someone as beautiful as she shouldn't have to settle for marrying a bald freak. She allowed you to kiss her and haggled to get ten million and disappear."

"I said those things about you? Lex, I'm so sorry."

"You did so in acting out a charade. You didn't mean those things, but she did. Helen never got a cent from you or Lionel, of course. But you showed me she only cared about my money after all. I was hurt, but after I calmed down, I thanked you. That was the first time we reconnected since mom died." Lex smiled. "I'm looking forward to our week in the city. This really is the first time we'll get some quality time together."

Clark tried to share in the excitement, but he was nervous. He couldn't recall staying in a city for a long time. Lex explained that maybe this was the best time to go since Dominic was on vacation. Clark only really agreed because Lex said there were very important meetings he had this week. Clark didn't feel like being in the mansion alone.

Lex had felt a mixture of feelings watching Clark at the grave. For his mother, Lex felt a twinge of guilt. But for Lionel, his emotions ranged from rage, jealousy, and oddly, of pride. Only Clark Kent would be able to find the good in that monster. He had relished in Clark consoling him. The past had been painful, but Clark loved him now as his brother, and that made everything worth it.

Lex made sure the chauffeur dropped them off at the front of the building so Clark could experience being served by the doorman. As to be expected, Clark introduced himself and shook the man's hand.

He watched Clark take in the marble floors and gold trim of the lobby. The Luthor's bought their penthouse here because the staff wore old style uniforms. Lex often wondered if Lionel would relish being sent back in time and if he could live without the modern conveniences. The elevator took them to the top floor, where he finally could show off the new home he created for Clark.

"You mentioned how concerned you were on being to exercise in the city. I hope this helps." The elevator doors opened, and Clark and Lex stepped out into a gymnasium unlike any other Clark had seen.

There was a basketball court on one side and an entire football field on the other. There was a track ring on the second floor that circled the entire room. In a corner was weightlifting machines; Clark noticed how there were higher weights than he saw at the machines at Smallville High. The lighter ones were probably to avoid questions if any strangers came in. The bathroom on the floor looked exactly like a locker room, with actual lockers and a wooden bench. A closet was filled with basket balls, footballs, baseballs and bats, and fencing gear.

"Lex," Clark said as he stared around the gymnasium, "this is amazing!"

"It's completely closed off; we are the only ones with access. No windows; lead lined and my security team does a sweep for bugs daily. You're completely safe to use your powers here." Lex couldn't stop looking at Clark's smile. "I know it's not the open fields of Smallville, but I wanted you to have a safe space to use your powers."

Clark become a blur that dashed across the room. One second he was running around the racetrack, the next he was checking out the weight machines, only to be on the football field the next.

"Wait, where do we sleep?"

Lex smiled. "Let's go to the main floor."

"We have another floor!?"

The elevator took them up another level. As they exited into a small entryway, that had a small bathroom attached to it. It then opened into a large open concept space. There were windows from floor to ceiling; they were high up enough that they could look down on the city. There was a kitchen off to the left, filled with all modern appliances. There was a small table for eating that had an artistic chandelier above it. Lex was mostly proud of the sunken in living room that had a fireplace in the middle. There was a mini bar stocked with scotch and cola.

Lex walked Clark around, showing the big screen TV that rolled down from the ceiling. There was a jacuzzi on the porch, along with a few hammock swinging chairs. There was a foosball and billiard table. The artwork he had worked with on the designer and made sure that it was colorful and nature based. Lex didn't expect Clark to notice those details on the surface, but everything had to be perfect for Clark to feel comfortable. He kept the abstracts to his office and personal room.

Clark seemed dazed at all the space and luxury around him. Lex anxiously watched for Clark to show indifference, or fear, or anger, but so far he was just silent.

"Come on, I'll show you your room." Lex grabbed his hand and led him down the hallway to the first door on the left. The other rooms were Lex's office, another bathroom, and a den.

Clark's new room was bigger than the one at the mansion. He had his own sitting room, a walk-in closet, an ensuite, an entire wall dedicated to gaming systems, along with bookshelves full of classics. There was a staircase leading up to a loft area.

"This is the best part," Lex said as he led Clark up the staircase.

The upper level only had a bed and an end table. There was a railing for anyone to look down. The ceiling was entirely made of glass, so Clark could lie in bed and look up at the stars. Right now, it was dusk and the stars were just beginning to come out. Lex turned off the lights with the touch of a button, and it seemed as if the two of them were standing in an open field under an empty sky.

"Wow." Clark breathed open mouthed as he stared up at the stars.

"You like it? Really?"

"Yeah."

Lex was thankful for the darkness as he felt a lump form in his throat and started to tear, just a little bit. He had done this. He, Lex Luthor had made Clark happy. Lex walked over to the boy and placed a hand on Clark's shoulder. "Welcome home, Julian."