3.

I knew the Luthors had a huge house built in Smallville and I knew where it was, but by God was I not prepared when I drove up to it.

Huge gates, monogrammed with the Luthor symbol and accompanied by a buzzer, cut off the property from everything around it. Within were beautiful, intricate gardens, with everything from a fountain to specially shaped hedges. The mansion was a medieval Scottish stone castle, long and rambling.

I sat there within the rumbling Mustang in awe for a moment, wondering if I even should have come here at all. But I didn't just want to leave the car and insult Lex. So I leaned over and rang the buzzer. Paused. Rang it again. Nobody answered.

He'd just moved here. Maybe his full staff wasn't available yet?

I sat there in the car, wondering what to do. At last, gathering up my courage, I turned the car off, shut the door and locked it, and squeezed through the bars of the gate. I walked up the gardens, expecting to be accosted by security or something at any moment, but no one was there. The mansion was a ghost town.

I went up to the big oak front door and knocked. No one answered. I was just going to open the door, when a voice sounded from behind me. "What are you doing here?!"

I whirled around. A blonde teenage girl with a bit of a Goth look was standing there. She looked around my age. There was an older boy skulking behind her.

"You're the new kid at school," I realized in surprise. "You're Amy Palmer. And that must be your brother Jeff."

"That's right. And you're trespassing on Luthor grounds," she said, scowling, hands on her hips. She was nowhere near as scary as my boss; joke was on her.

"So are you," I reminded her.

"I live here," she said snobbishly. "My family lives in the servant's quarters. Now who are you and what are you doing here?!"

"I'm here to return something Lex Luthor gave me," I said. "I didn't just want to return it without explaining and insult him."

Amy's eyes widened. "You're the girl who saved him," she said. "Morrigan Kent."

"Guilty," I admitted.

Amy looked torn for a moment. "Look, I'm glad you saved him," she said. "And I wish I could have been there to do it myself. But you should know. Lex Luthor would never be interested in someone like you. He deserves far better." She had an all-business sort of aura to her.

"Deserves…? Wait, you think I'm coming onto him?" I asked disbelievingly. "I'm fifteen! He's not even in college anymore!"

"So you're not interested in him?" she grilled me.

"No!"

"I wouldn't blame you. He's a very handsome man."

"No - well - yes, I guess - I hadn't really thought of it that way - But look! He's just some guy I saved! It's not a crime to save somebody's life, is it?" I challenged. "Because if that's a crime, I'm guilty. I was just going to return the gift, explain politely why I can't take it, and leave."

Amy glared at me suspiciously for a moment. "Okay," she said at last, relaxing. "Sorry. I was worried there for a minute."

I got the feeling Amy had a very serious crush on her family's adult boss, and I wasn't sure how to feel in response. Was I supposed to react badly? Feel sympathetic? Be offended that she'd essentially insulted me? Feel relieved that she seemed to understand?

Suddenly, the door opened and a brunette woman, a maid, was standing on the other side. "Hi, I'm Morrigan Kent," I said quickly. "I'm here to return a gift from Lex Luthor. Can I - can I talk to him?" All this hoopla made the question feel kind of arrogant.

"Yes, of course. Amy!" the woman, who must be her mother, scolded. "It's not your place to greet guests! You and Jeff both, shoo!"

Amy looked embarrassed and the silent Jeff glared at his mother. But he sloped off, taking his sister with him.

"I'm sorry about them. They can be a little -" Mrs Palmer began in embarrassment.

"Don't worry about," I said, shaking my head. "I'd just like to return the gift."

"Certainly. Right this way. He told me specifically to invite you in if you came by." She stepped aside to let me enter.

The inside was as magnificent as the outside. Sweeping staircases, wood-paneled walls, stained glass windows, plush carpets, a chandelier. I'd never been in a house this amazing. I walked slowly into the center of the entrance hall, staring around myself, feeling very small.

Mrs Palmer went in the direction of the Great Hall and stood in the doorway. "Mr Luthor," she said, "Miss Morrigan Kent is here to see you." I walked behind her. Two people in full fencing gear were dueling in the middle of the Great Hall. They paused, and one took off his mask. It was Lex.

"Mrs Palmer, I've told you a thousand times, just call me Lex," he said politely. He looked surprised and pleased to see me. He put down his gear and began walking toward me.

I was now thoroughly embarrassed. "I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't think - you must be very busy -" I began backing up.

"No, don't worry about it," he said quickly. "I think Hyke has sufficiently kicked my ass for the day." His blonde female instructor had also taken off her mask and put down her own sword. "Come with me," he told me, and led me away from his maid and his fencing instructor.

As we walked through the entrance hall and up the grand main staircase, I was still staring around myself. "This is amazing," I said quietly, in something close to awe.

"If you're dead and in the market for something to haunt," said Lex scathingly.

"Lex. You live in a mansion. You could at least act a little appreciative," I said dryly.

"Eh. There are better mansions," he said dismissively. "This one's cold, drafty, old fashioned, and gloomy. My father has an obsession with that sort of thing. He calls this the Luthor Ancestral Home. He had it shipped over from Scotland stone by stone."

"He literally paid someone to deconstruct a Scottish castle and rebuild it exactly as it had originally been in rural Kansas?" I asked disbelievingly.

"Yes he did." Lex seemed dryly amused by my expression.

"... Why?" I asked with fervor. "I mean, he built this place all the way out here, but he's never even used it. I remember this place being built. The trucks full of stones drove through town for weeks, but no one ever moved in."

"Oh, my father had no intention of living here," said Lex, giving me an odd look, like this should be obvious. "He's never even stepped through the front door."

"Then why'd he ship it over?"

"Because he could," said Lex matter of factly.

"That… is a horrible reason," I said, pained. "Is that rich person logic? I'm just going to do things to impress people because I can do them? No wonder you all seem so unhappy. Think about all you could have done with that money. You could have gone on a vacation, or built a library, or given it to charity, or even saved it up for later when you really needed it for something."

Lex was staring at me.

I backed up mentally and realized what I'd said. "I - I didn't mean to insult you, sorry," I sighed. "I kind of go on opinionated rants. It's my thing."

"No, don't be sorry. You have intelligent ideas about things and you voice them." Lex sounded kind of impressed. "You're also right. Your idealism is inspiring."

"Most people call it annoying, so thanks." I smiled self deprecatingly.

We walked into a room filled with exercise equipment. There was a fire blazing in the vast stone fireplace. Lex pulled off his white fencing jacket, revealing a long-sleeved black shirt that looked high-end enough that it probably cost more than my entire thrift store outfit put together. He was slim but he obviously worked out, and he glowed with sweat. I remembered what Amy had said about Lex being handsome and looked away uncomfortably.

It was a lot easier to tell when someone had pointed it out to me, and the man hadn't just been in a horrible car wreck and nearly drowned.

Damnit.

There was a bowl of fresh fruit and a selection of beverages on a table, probably carefully placed there by the same servant who had made the fire. Lex put a sweat rag on the back of his neck and took up a water bottle. "How's the new ride?" he said, nonchalant.

"That's why I'm here," I said uncomfortably.

"What's the matter? You don't like it? I can get you a different one -"

"I love it. I can't keep it."

Lex actually put the water down and turned to me, he was so surprised. "... Morrigan, you saved my life. I think it's the least I can do," he said, earnest and a little disbelieving.

"It would be wrong to accept a money reward for saving someone's life," I said evenly. "Is that how you thank all people, Lex? You hand them money?"

"What else should I do?" He sounded so genuinely confused. That was what got me.

"Be kind toward them in the future. Show your gratefulness through actions. Behave differently from now on. Just throwing ideas off the top of my head here," I said.

"So you don't want the car?"

"I want the car. But it would be wrong to keep the car," I clarified.

"... Did your father have anything to do with this?" he asked at last. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I got the feeling he didn't like me."

"My family is a little wary of your family," I admitted. "Particularly your father. We don't - we don't want to get involved in anything," I said at last.

"You feel the apple doesn't fall far from the three?" Lex asked dryly.

"It's not that," I said.

"It's okay. I've been bald since I was nine. I'm used to people judging me before they get to know me."

"No, it's really not that," I clarified. "I'm not lying when I say that. That's actually not it." He looked confused again. "Look, Lex, I'll try to explain this to you. When my family receives money, we like to know it's coming from a good place. We don't have much money, but all the money we do have comes from solid hard work. And we gain a lot of satisfaction and pride from that. We grow organic produce in gardens and orchards, and we milk cows, and we create grain-based cattle feed. That's where all our money comes from. From giving food and milk and animal feed to others.

"I'm not saying you and your father don't work hard, Lex. I'm not saying that at all. But the place your money comes from… I've got to be honest, even people in Smallville are aware it's a pretty dark place.

"And that same money was used to buy that car. That's why I don't want it. I'm sorry, I hope I haven't offended you. I came here because I wanted to avoid offending you. I wanted to give you back the gift in person, and thank you for your thoughtfulness. But I can't take that car.

"I also meant what I said earlier. I don't need a reward for saving your life. I just did the right thing. I wasn't about to let you die."

Lex just stood there, like he wasn't sure how to take this.

"And yeah, my parents have their suspicions about your father teaching you his business practices," I admitted. "But I'm of the personal opinion that not everyone has to turn out like their parents, or even like their parents. So I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt until you show me otherwise."

I put the keys on the table next to the fruit.

"Thank you," I said, and turned to leave.

"Morrigan, do you believe a person can fly?" The voice came suddenly from behind. I turned back around to find Lex staring at me very strangely.

"Sure," I said, confused. "In an airplane."

"No, I'm not talking about that," he said intently. "I'm talking about soaring through the clouds with nothing but air beneath you."

"Do I believe someone can just leap up and start flying through the clouds?" I asked skeptically. "Maybe in some sort of cosmic miracle. But ordinary people can't fly, Lex."

"I did," he said, eyes gleaming.

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" I confirmed, only half teasing.

"It was after the accident, when my heart stopped. It was the most exhilarating two minutes of my life. I felt carried by a pair of warm arms, and I felt totally safe. I flew over Smallville, and for the first time, I didn't see a dead end. I saw a new beginning." He smiled into my surprised expression. "Thanks to you I have a second chance. We have a future, Morrigan. And I don't want anything to stand in the way of our friendship."

"... Well, my parents don't decide who I'm friends with, Lex," I said at last. "I do."

"Excellent." He backed away in satisfaction. "That's all I needed to know."

I paused, and smiled wryly. "Lex, you don't make many friends, do you?"

"No," he admitted. "That's not the kind of world I come from."

"But you want to make friends with me?"

"I feel… better around you. Safe," he admitted. "I just - I get the instinct I can trust you."

"Well, that's good, because you can," I said.

"But what made you think I don't make many friends?" he asked.

"Well," I said, amused. "True friends take the time to get to know each other. And they do fun things together just because they want to. You don't just… decide someone's your friend, and declare it. That's not really how it works. True friendship forms over time together."

"So you want to do things together?" he guessed. "I can arrange that. Take your pick. Concerts, shopping trips, sports matches, trips to foreign places, fancy restaurants, private planes, helicopters -"

He stopped because I was laughing softly.

"What?"

"That's not exactly what I meant," I admitted. "That all sounds great. But I'm not really that kind of person. Think diners, pearls, lilies, that sort of thing. I'm not really the diamonds, roses, fancy restaurants kind of girl. I was thinking more… we could order pizza and play videogames together. You know, hang out. Talk. Get to know one another. Maybe go to the movies."

He looked puzzled, but at last he smiled. "Well," he said dryly, "this is your area of expertise, not mine. I've never had many friends. And I've especially never been friends with a girl before."

"You've never had a girl friend?" I asked disbelievingly.

"I've had a girlfriend?" he clarified.

"But… just a friend who's a girl…?"

"Never," he admitted.

"Okay," I said, smiling, "then we have a lot to work on. So, friends are supposed to get to know each other. What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun, relaxation, enjoyment?"

"I… don't really do that kind of thing."

"Oh, come on," I said. "Everyone has something."

"I don't really know what to say," he admitted. "Fencing, polo, fast cars, Scotch, boxing, reading…"

"Reading?"

"I'm fascinated by history - classical literature, culture," he admitted. "It was a big part of my private education growing up. I think we have a lot to learn from the past."

"Okay, that's a start," I said. "You said you don't like the way the mansion looks. What kind of look do you prefer?"

"I like the more modernist style," he said. "Black chrome, stainless steel. No one's ever asked me that before."

"Really?"

"No one's cared," he said, without thinking I believe, because his eyes widened in surprise and then he turned the tables on me. "What about you?" The surprise was gone. Magically, his expression was smooth and implacable again. Here was a man who had become an excellent actor.

I thought of the way he'd assumed I wasn't telling him the full truth. Or the way he'd assumed throwing money at me would make me like him. That saddened me, a little.

So I started talking about myself. About my favorite rock bands, the electric guitar and singing, astronomy, robotics, video games, politics and the school newspaper, my interest in roller derby (I did not mention I was currently lying about my age and doing it), the old car I was trying to fix up, my friends, my family and their farm, my more tomboyish experiences with fishing and sports, baking apple pies in the kitchen with my Mom, going to Church. I talked about books and we got into a whole conversation on our respective favorites.

I talked about my job. "I work at The Beanery," I said, "as a waitress and barista. It's a little alternative coffee place."

"Is that why you dress like that?" he asked, pointing.

I blushed. "There's a guy at school," I admitted slowly when he looked curious.

And he smiled. "You thought your old look could use some updating," he guessed.

"Pretty much. I used my waitressing money to go on a shopping spree with my cool alternative community college student coworker. We went to thrift stores. She insisted this would look great on me."

"You know, I could buy you -"

"Lex, I just gave you back a car. We talked about this." But I was more amused than anything.

"Alright, alright." He raised his hands. He was smiling himself, something I had already noticed he did not to do too terribly often. "It was just a suggestion."

I laughed. There was a warm silence for a moment.

"So," I said, "I have to go. But I'll give you my phone number. You can text me and ask to hang out, or you can meet me during my shifts at The Beanery. I work Tuesdays and Thursdays from two o'clock to six o'clock. Just for some extra spending money. Okay?"

"Okay."

"And it's just a friendship. No gifts, no debts, no complications. No strings attached."

"Got it. That actually sounds… very refreshing," he admitted.

"Excellent," I said. I liked the feeling that I could introduce a bit of normality into the life of a guy who did not seem to have much of it. A little shot of happiness. "I'll see you later, okay? I can let myself out."

I smiled and turned, going through the door and leaving him gazing after me.