Chapter Thirty-Seven

Clark sat with his hands in his lap as he listened to the interrogation. He just couldn't believe it. Magic was real? Lex was cool as ever, his hands clasped behind his back. He stood up straight as he answered all their questions.

"But what about breakfast?" Lois asked. "The day after Julian woke up you gave him a lot of food. He should have first been on a liquid diet if he was in a coma for a year."

"I hadn't thought of that," Lex confessed. He looked surprised. "I just wanted him to feel comfortable and safe that day."

"Wait, why not use project Asclepius on him?" Zatanna pointed to Clark. "Seems like something like that would increase his chances of waking up."

Clark saw Lex's face twitch. His brother was fighting the words being compelled from his mouth.

"It wouldn't have worked," Clark blurted out.

"That's true," Lex said.

"Why not?" Lois pressed.

Again, Lex fought to keep himself from speaking. His face was getting red. "Because the project is created from my blood," Clark admitted. "Hamilton used my blood to create Asclepius."

"I hope both of you understand that is not information that will become public," Lex fumed. "Now, is everyone satisfied?"

Lois and Zatanna exchanged a glance. Zatanna just shrugged while Lois muttered, "Yeah."

"Wonderful. Julian, I'll allow you to escort our guests out." Lex exited the room, leaving Clark alone with the two girls.

"Lois, I appreciate you looking into my memory. I really do. But my fingerprints match. My bloodwork is a match. Face it, I'm Julian."

"If I am right, and something did happen, your parents are waiting for you." Lois said tenderly.

"They. Don't. Want me." Clark clenched his fists. He remembered the vacant look on Johnathan Kent's face.

Lois looked sympathetic. "Just hang on. Just a little longer. I'm close to finding something."

"No. I'm done. I am Julian Luthor; always was. I am moving on with my life. So should you."

"But I proved magic is real. Actual magic. That means Lex could have paid Zatara to do something."

"I'm sorry," Clark addressed Zatanna, "but can you prove magic is real somehow?"

"But of course. Ssik em."

Clark was thunderstruck. The woman before him was beautiful! How did he not see it before? Before he knew what he was doing, Clark wrapped his arms around Zatanna and pulled her in for a deep kiss.

Chloe.

The image of Chloe's face flashed in his mind. Chloe. His girlfriend. He remembered her laugh. Her teasing. Her smile.

"No." He pulled away. Clark's face turned red as he saw Lois had watched them, mouth open.

"Not cool, Z."

"It was all I could think of." Zatanna blushed.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

After seeing both Lois and Zatanna out the door, Clark took a shower to get ready to fall asleep. As he entered the bedroom from the ensuite, Lex was already waiting for him.

"I came to see how you were doing."

"Fine, I guess."

"I am so sorry," Lex moved forward. "I never wanted them to know your connection with the project."

"I'm the one that told them." Clark thought back to something else Lex had said. "So, you hated me? When Lionel first brought me in?"

"Yes." Lex tried to find the right words. "I've said before how Lionel wasn't a good man. Mom didn't want a second kid, but she got pregnant anyway. A week before we flew out to Smallville, mom fell down the stairs, losing the baby. Years later I suspected she fell on purpose. Lionel probably knew right away. When he found you, Lionel made a point of naming you Julian. The same name the other kid would have gotten. It was a way of him proving a point to her; that he would have his way no matter her feelings. I picked up on how your presence saddened her. And Lionel did give you more attention than me."

"So, mom didn't love me?"

"I think she was guarded around you. But she tried to be fair." Lex smiled to himself. "Want to hear about when I became your big brother?"

"Sure."

"Get in bed." Lex frowned as he took in Clark wearing a plain white t-shirt and boxers. "Why aren't you wearing your pajamas?"

"They, um, make me feel like a towel." Clark admitted. "Because of the monogram."

"Uh huh." Lex helped tuck Clark in. "So, you're saying that if these flannel sheets mysteriously got monogrammed, you'd get rid of them?"

"Not a chance." Clark grinned. "I'm so rich now I'd get flannel wallpaper and carpeting."

Lex groaned. "Well, we can't have that.

"Anyway, about two weeks after mom died there was a huge storm. The lightning was so bright you'd think it daytime, and the thunder was so close the ground, the walls and everything on it shook. I thought, if there was ever a night for moms' ghost to come back, this was the night. So, I got out of bed and started walking the halls in the mansion, trying to get a glimpse of my mother's ghost. As I went closer to her study, I started hearing noises. I was so excited; I ran into the room only to find you, Julian, huddled under the desk.

"You were crying in fear from the storm. I had learned long ago to never go to Lionel when I had nightmares. I guess you did too even though you were the favorite. To see this small demigod scared to death because of a little thunder…" Lex shook his head in disbelief. "I could have laughed. I could have left the room without you seeing me and then hold it over you for years."

"Why didn't you?"

"I realized you needed me. An invulnerable, strong demigod needed me. I ran to my room and grabbed a stuffed animal mom gave me when I was younger. I think it was a stuffed horse. Lionel didn't believe in giving you stuffed animals. I got under the desk with you; gave you the animal to squeeze and stayed with you until the storm eased up. You fell asleep by then, so I carried you and tucked you in bed. I had to take the toy back, though. After that, I think you noticed I was there. Lionel worked to keep us apart, but you managed to speed your way over to me occasionally. Usually right before bedtime."

"Did you tell me stories then, to?"

"I sure did."

"Tell me one." Clark closed his eyes, heavy with sleep.

"Once upon a time, there was an ogre who lived in a castle. People could see it from miles away it was so big, and the rooms were filled with treasure. But everyone in the surrounding villages kept their distance because the ogre was so ugly. This made the ogre very lonely.

"One day, an angel fell from the sky right on the ogre's land. The ogre brought the angel inside and cared for him. The angel showed the ogre kindness. Something he had experienced very little of. The angel had to leave often, to fly in the sky to stretch his wings or else his wings would fall off, but always returned.

"The ogre's father soon learned of the angel and wanted the angel's wings to fall off so he could have them for himself. One day, in the castle, he caught the angel off guard and secured the angel with a net. He took the angel down to a dark dungeon and poked the angel with spears and knives, making him bleed. When the angel begged for mercy, all the monster did was laugh."

"Did the ogre free him?" Clark was minutes away from falling asleep.

"No. The angel was able to free himself, but the ogre cried at what had happened to his dear friend. It was then that the ogre vowed no one would harm his angel ever again." Clark had fallen asleep. Lex brushed a lock of hair off his forehead and kissed him. "No matter the cost."