Notes: Sometimes Smallville leaves a lot up to the imagination of the viewer. My project for the season: To fill in some of those gaps with a missing scene or two from as many episodes of Season Four as I can. (Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own or have anything to do with anything on this show.) I started with Facade and wrote a coda for 16 episodes. I had a `write in five minutes' rule firmly in place for the majority of these, with some exceptions. If you're trying to block out much of this season, I'd go with Recruit and Onyx here over anything else. g

Various pairings, various ratings, various liberties taken.

1~Facade

Lex was trying to figure out which of his private investigators would be up to the task of taking a closer look at Lana's newest...friend...so it was understandable that he wasn't paying attention as he slowly made his way out of the hospital. He smacked into a solid human wall, and braced his hands automatically, steadying himself once more. Lex stared blankly at the plaid in front of him for a microsecond even as he looked up. "Clark." The name came out a bit breathlessly, and Lex cringed.

Clark swallowed and stared down at Lex's hands. "You okay?" Lex let his hands fall to his sides...if they trailed across Clark's chest a moment longer than necessary, Clark was distracted enough not to say anything.

"Just came from seeing Lana. The doctors said she'll be fine." Lex swallowed and reassured.

"Oh." Clark flushed guiltily. Lex connected the dots even as he spoke it aloud: "You weren't here to see her." He said slowly, the words wrapping around his tongue like candy.

"I'd like to talk to you." Clark paused. "Um. About my mom." Lex nodded, moving around Clark slowly.

Lex smiled as the footsteps fell into line behind him.

2~ Facade

Clark hears the voiceover in his head year after year, but sometimes the words change. It always has the dependable theme of "Clark Kent, star quarterback, star player, the best `fill in blank of the week' here", but again, the words change.

And so do the people cheering him on adjust from time to time.

It used to be Lana, always Lana, smiling brightly and opaquely, and he'd feel like he could fly over the fields. For a few times, it was Chloe, hair glistening in the sun, her grin drowning out the sound of the crowd.

And then it became Lex, staring at him, through him, and Clark knows he should feel unnerved, uncertain, but all he wants to do is impress Lex and just let go. These are the ones that made him feel like he really could do anything, dream anything, and have it.

It was Lex all the time these days, hands in his pockets, and blue eyes seeing everything.

Clark misses him.

3~ Devoted

Clark clutched at the binder, his side still making him feel like he was about to maybe pass out every time he took a breath. He was trying for tiny little pants here, but with Lex talking like this...it wasn't easy. Lex looked so--so sincere, so earnest. And the fall of the light was hitting his face just right and Clark felt his chest clench, but he didn't think it was anything Coach Teague had done.

"Your friendship helps keep it at bay." Lex was saying softly, tiredly, like he thought maybe Clark wasn't hearing him.

Clark swallowed hard, missing Lex's next words.

"...I'm not willing to give up on that." Lex smiled, that small little depreciating half-smile that twisted at Clark's stomach, and Clark nodded his head slightly. Lex started to move away, and Clark pivoted around, surprising himself.

Lex too, if the narrowed, curious expression was any indication. Clark reached out his hand around Lex's neck, pulling him forward. "I get why. It still hurt." Lex nodded, blinking fast. "It still hurts, but I'm not willing to give up either." Clark bent his head slightly and pressed his lips to Lex's, short, fast, but hard enough to make him really feel it.

"I'll see you around?" Clark whispered, staring down at the binder again. Lex inhaled and raised his hand to Clark's chin, forcing him to look up again.

"You will." Lex replied simply and walked out of the barn, footsteps falling lightly across the hay.

Clark tossed and turned all night, the words, the kiss, tumbling around in his brain.

He'd have to see him again soon, try and figure out if Lex really meant it, really was going to stop investigating him.

His last thought as he drifted off was that...maybe he just didn't care too much anymore, one way or the other. He missed talking to Lex.

Clark thought if he could hyperventilate, he'd surely be doing it now. Step. Step. Okay. You're doing fine, he told himself, and felt himself warm just thinking that he had to repeat that like a freakin' mantra just to get his feet to move. Okay. Here. He was in here and...God. It really was empty. Lex's voice echoed in the empty space. The words all rolled over Clark like the crescendo at the opera CDs Lex had given him last year and he heard himself respond--to what, he wasn't sure, but words were coming out and Lex was nodding.

Even if Lex was lying...

Clark lied too. He'd just have to be careful, and...and maybe let things happen however they would. Clark knew his lies weren't meant to hurt Lex and maybe, just maybe Lex's lies weren't meant to hurt Clark.

So. Trying again. "In the spirit of friendship..." Clark felt lighter, already, just having Lex here to help him again, Lex to talk to. He followed Lex silently out of the room and they entered his office. They talked for a little while longer, about the weather, at first, but they settled into an old pattern--Clark's parents, the farm, LuthorCorp, and then they both fell silent again.

Maybe Lex was as unnerved as Clark at how easy it was to talk to him, still.

He hoped Lex was as happy about it though, too.

"I kind of laughed when I saw you have the LuthorCorp insignia on the uniforms." He confessed finally, to break the quiet.

"Yeah. I had to." Clark knew Lex didn't mean he had to in order to get the money and tried diligently not to choke on his water.

"Do you mind?" Lex asked carefully, sipping his juice.

Clark shook his head. No. He didn't. He had for a minute, at first. Wanted to torch the shirt and send the ashes to Lex in a nice little box. But--but it still meant something. And no. Clark really didn't mind wearing something of Lex's at all.

"Well, you're going to have to come! You'll have to see me in it, right?"

Lex grinned around the glass. "I definitely will."

As Clark exited an hour later, Lex grinned. The Dean at Met U had already received a call from him just a couple of hours ago, but Clark was getting what he wanted anyway.

For the first time in months, Lex was on time for his dialysis appointment.

4~ Transference

It was eight minutes into the car ride when Lex decided he couldn't take the silence anymore. He stole another glance at Clark, who was sitting, staring at his flexing hands and exhaled slowly. He maneuvered the car to the side of the road and turned off the engine. Clark slid his gaze over to Lex.

"Clark, I realize we're not going to get back to our old...rapport, not quickly, but I'd appreciate an explanation. Why were you at the prison? Why were you--"

Lex's next words were drowned out by Clark's lips on the side of his cheek, a quick soft swipe of the tongue, and then Clark's mouth was on his. Frozen, startled, Lex couldn't figure out what to do with his hands, but they seemed to be able to figure that out on their own. He pulled Clark closer, palm warm and sweaty on Clark's neck. Lex slid his thumb along the side, letting Clark pull him tighter, harder, twisting around the seat of the car.

"I'd ask what precipitated this, but I don't think I especially care." Lex murmured, smiling up at Clark's mussed up hair.

Clark grinned back and leaned in to Lex's ear, whispering, "I didn't think you would, Lex." He nibbled on the lobe of Lex's ear and Lex heard his breath hitch embarrassingly.

"I've missed you." Lex said quietly, looking at Clark's shoulder. Clark stopped the quick movements of his tongue and lifted Lex's chin. Clark's eyes flashed and he nipped Lex's lip, right underneath the scar, pulling at it hard.

"I know." Clark told him, rubbing at Lex's cheek. Lex shifted backwards, Clark falling on top of him, Clark's weight heavy and solid and so welcome on his stomach, and Lex hadn't thought he'd be lucky enough to have this, not again. Not so soon, anyway.

"You've always been mine, you know. I'd never give you up." Clark grunted harshly, his shirt twisting up and over his head as he fell back onto Lex, fingers twisting around Lex's pants and looking a little startled when the zipper broke in two.

Lex grinned. "It's not like you haven't done that before." Clark's small smile grew and he bit around Lex's navel.

5~ Jinx

"You sound awfully concerned about that for someone who let her walk out of his life." Lex said, not really caring if he sounded as bored with the whole thing as he felt.

"Yeah, I guess the whole `if you love somebody set them free' thing kinda backfired." Clark sighed, body stiff behind Lex's. Lex forced himself not to move, not to react, just a simple shift toward the table to line up against the pool table.

"It's not about love, Clark, It's about what you're willing to do for it." Lex said slowly, drawing back his cue. "On that field you'll do whatever it takes to win. But if you're not willing to do the same for Lana, maybe she doesn't mean as much to you as you think."

And it was about fucking time for that. Lex could practically feel the heat of Clark's stare on his back, and he made certain to take what was perhaps a bit longer than he needed to start walking around the table. He leaned in again to make the next shot when the doors swung open and Mikhail strolled in, staring fixedly at Clark.

Lex looked between them, interested at the brief moment. He cleared his throat, gesturing at Mikhail with his cue. "Was there something you needed?" He asked politely, noting the little growl in Clark's throat. Fascinating.

"You've wanted to know why your father brought me here. I wish to stay here, so I think perhaps we can come to terms." Mikhail said, in that halting yet oddly silky accent Lex was slowly becoming accustomed to.

"Actually, we ought to speak about that," Lex began, but Mikhail interrupted him.

"On your knees." Mikhail said softly. To Clark.

Clark's brows barely had time to draw together before Lex saw him hit the ground with a hard thud. Lex started to move to Clark's aid, but Mikhail held up a hand. "No, wait. You shall like this, I promise."

"Unbutton your shirt." Mikhail directed Clark. Lex's eyes widened as Clark followed the directive even as he started to say "Stop this! What are you doing?" But his fingers were deftly moving down the buttons.

"I don't know what you're doing, but you need to stop." Lex said slowly.

"I somehow suspect you don't truly mean that. I saw how your eyes looked when I merely mentioned his name before. They are the same now." Mikhail smiled. "Crawl to Lex. Slowly." Clark exhaled sharply but--but his hand moved in front of him, the smack of his palm against the floor echoing in the room. Lex found himself holding his breath as Clark moved across the floor.

"Open Lex's trousers now." Mikhail said calmly, moving over to sit on top of the pool table. Any other time Lex would have told him to get the fuck off if he valued his limbs but...well. This was different. Jesus. Lex thrust his hands out in front of him, batting away Clark's movement, but Clark grabbed ahold of his waist and ripped the zipper open completely.

"Mikhail..." Lex said, watching as Clark looked up at him, eyes filled with--with fear? With something else too, but Lex didn't have time to figure it out. "Mikhail, stop this." It was firmer now, like he actually meant it, he hoped.

"Listen, you son of a--" Clark began hotly but Mikhail whispered:

"Lex's boxers. They need to come down." Lex smacked at Clark's hand but it didn't have any effect. Lex stared half in horror, half in amazement as Clark stared at his cock, only a few inches from his face. "Now, Clark, lick his cock."

"What?" Clark asked, but his head was already bending. Lex closed his eyes, trying not to shudder. Oh fuck. He braced his hands on Clark's shoulders as Clark continued to lick at Lex's cock helplessly.

"Clark..." Lex bit out. Clark's tongue was so hot, so fast, making quick little darting licks around his cock and Lex wanted to tell him to open his mouth...

Mikhail shrugged and jumped off the table. "I think that's enough for today." "What?" Lex hissed. Mikhail simply grinned and walked out of the room slowly, his pacing seeming to match the swiftness of Clark's licking.

"And, end scene." Mikhail paused by the door and Clark drew back, falling backward on his ass. One hand on the doorway, Mikhail asked simply: "Now, do call me when you have made your decision."

Lex stared down at Clark in shocked absorption. Clark fumbled with pulling on his shirt in rough, jerky motions until Lex managed to compose himself and tuck his cock back in his boxers, back into his pants. He knelt down by Clark's side, his hand gripping his friend's shoulder roughly. "I'm sorry, it was all happening so fast and--"

"No. It wasn't--it wasn't--it was, but it wasn't that." Clark said, not looking up, not noticing, or caring that the buttons weren't straight. "I liked it." The words came out in a breathless rush. Lex felt his grip increase further, but Clark didn't feel that either.

"So did I." Lex admitted. Clark looked up, green eyes fixed on Lex's face.

"You're still hard." Clark said finally, eyes not seeming too inclined to look at Lex's visage any longer.

"Want to do something about it?" Lex asked, hoping he didn't sound as desperate as he felt.

Clark nodded, swallowing hard, and Lex placed his hands on Clark's chest and started reworking the buttons.

"So, we'll find something to stop him later." Lex murmured into Clark's ear.

"Stop--oh, yeah. Okay. Right." Clark said breathlessly as Lex eased his back onto the floor.

6~ Spell

"No, he's something else. Something special. I could sense it when your magicks were ripped from your body. I can taste it on you."

Clark was a little out of it to hear the next words; the pain was distracting. Every breath he took it felt like his chest grew a little smaller.

"...there are other ways." Lana was saying.

Chloe smirked and moved forward. Lana nodded at her, and Clark watched with a kind of blank shock when Chloe flicked open the button on his pants and slid them down to his knees.

"What the heck are you all doing?" Clark screamed. "What's going on?!" There had to have been something with kryptonite. Perhaps there was a red kryptonite version that affected humans? His mind raced. But that didn't make any sense.

Chloe moved back again and smiled at Lana. Stepping forward, flipping her hair back with a quiet, slow smile, Lana gripped his cock, sliding a red polished fingernail down its side over and over again. She looked at it like it was some kind of experiment. He had pictured Lana doing this for him, once or twice, but never had he expected for it to feel so cold and wrong.

"Be quiet. You know you want this." She hissed, her finger sliding quicker.

"No, I don't!" Clark twisted again in the chains. He couldn't move, he couldn't do anything to stop her, when Lois seemed to recover from watching her work at him and took her turn, sliding up next to Clark. He twisted away, trying desperately to stare at the wall, anything to make this not be happening.

Lois was cooing into his ear, harsh Latin words that he couldn't understand, but he was kissing her and none of it mattered. He felt a fleeting sensation that he shouldn't be liking this, but so long as she was kissing him, murmuring those hot words, he didn't care.

"It's good to know that some things stay the same." Chloe said, appreciating the view of Lana touching his cock.

"May I, Isobel?" Chloe asked, and the politeness was completely ill-fitting with everything else happening.

"Of course, Madeleine." Lana--wait, Isobel--murmured, stepping away, and gesturing at Clark's cock gracefully. Madeleine sank to her knees in front of Clark, and blew on the sensitive skin around his balls first, a tiny dart of her tongue happening only when Clark managed to not whimper from the breathing. He failed the second time around. She must have been waiting for that, because suddenly he was in her mouth, her warm, heated, wet mouth and he used Lois' distraction, watching with great interest as his cock moved in and out of Madeleine's mouth to move his head away. Lois slapped him, and swung his head around, back to her.

His breath shaking, he forced himself to stay still while she kissed him. She was trying to draw him into it, trying to make him enjoy it, but nothing was feeling good about this at all.

His cock seemed to disagree with Clark's assessment of the situation though, and with the little give that he had, his hips were moving with the motions of Madeleine's mouth. But--this wasn't Lois. This--maybe he could get them to just talk.

He broke away from her, breathing heavy. He wasn't used to the sensation, and it settled uneasily in his chest. "What's your name?" He gasped. "Where's Lois?"

"You know, the men in my time generally didn't care what my name was. Just a rough rutting in a barn, just like this was all they wanted."

"I want to know your name." Clark said, embarrassed beyond anything that his words came out with the rhythm of his thrusts into Chloe's mouth. Oh, God, he was so close, he was going to come.

"Brianne. Now be silent." She bit his lip, hard, her fingers sliding across his stomach, rubbing at him like she was trying to soothe a spooked horse.

Isobel this entire time had been watching this scene only a few feet away, her eyes glazed over and fingers clenching. "Brianne. Come." Brianne looked at her, sideways, her hands having moved up to Clark's sternum at this point, but she broke away and went to her.

"I have missed you, so much." Isobel told her, pulling Brianne's hair to her face, caressing it across her cheeks. Brianne shut her eyes, and wrapped her arms around Isobel.

"As I have you." Brianne told her. Isobel slid her hands down Brianne's chest, and Clark could see her tense, back straight and neck swaying.

Isobel maneuvered Brianne into place in front of him, and Clark was watching, wondering, when he saw Isobel tuck Brianne's head onto her shoulder, and whispered with that halting accent she had, "Watch Madeleine."

And it was all just too much, and Clark exploded into Madeleine's mouth. He shuddered against the wood, his hands arching against the chains.

He was silent, spent, as they wrenched the truth of the crystal's location from him, unable to feel anything but a vague sense of horror and dread.

"Thank you Clark, you've been very helpful." Isobel said, her eyes hard and cruel and Clark could barely look at her.

He didn't think he'd ever be able to look at her again, and not think of this.

7~ Bound

Clark had bought an old DVD player at a rummage sale and repaired it himself. He'd managed to convince Mom that having the old nineteen inch in the loft wouldn't make him stay up later.

And he'd kept true to his word. Up until now. He glanced out the window, one more time, feeling like he might have developed OCD or something. For the sixth straight time, the house was completely dark; his parents were long asleep. Clark pulled out the DVD from his notebook folder and looked at it for a moment. He slid the DVD into the player, turned on the television and found the remote to get it to the right channel. He flicked off his lamp and sat on the floor, in the darkness, with only the starlight outside falling across his hands on the remote.

He pushed play. He waited the two infinite seconds for the contents to come into view, and Clark pushed mute, still a little freaked at the small possibility of waking his parents up. Lex's face came on screen and Clark sighed, small and soft, echoing in the loft. He bit his lip and knelt a little closer to the screen.

Lex, pushing her across. Pulling her to him. Thrusting against her against the elevator panel. Lex.

When it was over, Clark's mouth felt dry, and he fumbled for the remote to press replay, but it turned out he'd inched so close that the DVD player was closer than the remote, so he did it manually.

His boxers were getting a little snug, somehow, and Clark looked at the paused screen for a moment before he inched his hand up, just a little bit, closer to the top of his thigh.

He pushed play, and the scenes flooded the room again. It was over too fast though, and Clark was half-hard now.

He pressed stop for a moment, and stared down at his erection, tenting his shorts. This wasn't right. This was a horrible thing to do to someone who'd been his friend. Who...was still his friend.

He swallowed hard and pushed the play button hard enough that it popped off and plinked against the wall.

He didn't notice. He wouldn't have cared if he had. He timed his hand's movements with the way Lex was slamming around on the screen, and Clark could hear his breathing and the crickets chirping outside, and nothing else. Frustrated with the material in his way, he wriggled out of the boxers and sat back down on top of them, only a couple of feet from the television. He paused the screen on a closer shot of Lex's face, one that barely showed the girl, and started working on his cock, hard, fast, just like the expression on Lex's face, just like how Lex had fucked that girl.

Clark whimpered and felt he was near, soon, really soon now.

The last few days, Lex, I thought your father was being more honest with me then you were... I hated that feeling; like we were enemies... Clark bit his lip to keep from screaming. Lex. Lex. Lex.

Clark must have knocked into the remote by accident, because the screen unpaused and as Lex moved, Clark came hard, all over the floor.

You don't know that every day I wonder why I keep going, why I do the things I do.

Don't give up on me yet. Clark sat silently for a moment and didn't look as the screen replayed in a continual loop for a few minutes.

Clark shut the television off and heaved himself onto the sofa, wrapping a blanket around himself, and stared out at the stars. It was so cold out tonight.

8~ Scare

"What do you suggest I do?" Lex exploded, digging his nails into his palm, trying to breathe in. It was hard to go against all your instincts that said don't breathe hard, maybe you'll have less of a chance of breathing in more of the toxin. A highly illogical but natural inclination, Lex supposed. God. Clark was here, standing, awake and not shuddering on the floor at the hospital.

He hadn't wanted to leave him, all alone and scared but there was nothing he could do to save Clark unless he was at the plant. He'd helped the doctor lift Clark to the gurney, his hand grasping Clark's once, squeezing, promising silently that no matter what he had to do, Clark would get the antidote. This was incentive like nothing before. He'd broken all previous speeding records driving back; it was probably a good thing the streets were utterly deserted.

"Use me. I want you to use me. Look, I came out of the panic state, maybe there's something in me that can help. I'll give you whatever samples you need." Clark said haltingly, eyes pleading with Lex.

Lex was overwhelmed. It was all too much at once; what Clark was offering, God, what he could learn. There were some of the meteor rocks just around the corner in the vault, and it would work. Clark would let him, he'd sit there as Lex drew his blood and he wouldn't be able to lie anymore. He'd sit there, and Lex would roll up his sleeve and press some of the rocks to him--he didn't think it would take much, really.

It'd be so easy.

"Even if your immune system can offer some kind of insight..." Lex tuned out the doctor and refocused on Clark. Now wasn't the time. He didn't know when it would be, or if it had already long since passed, he just knew that now wasn't it.

"He's right Clark. We need the antidote in a few hours; there's no time. The antidote needs to be heated to 1000 degrees Kelvin until it clears otherwise it's useless." Lex saw it register in Clark's eyes; hoped he'd do what Lex suspected. He shifted slightly, maneuvering his body toward the window, hoping the doctor would follow his lead and...he did. He was moving and he couldn't see Clark at all.

"Are you going to decide who takes the potentially lethal injection? Because whoever it is, you could be killing them!"

Hurry, Clark. Lex thought, turning his back. He heard words coming out of his mouth but he didn't know what they were. He felt a small burst of heat along his back and the relief washed through him. Lex waited another couple of moments and turned around as the machine beeped. Clark had his, hey, it's another Smallville miracle expression on and Lex sighed silently but for once the sheer relief overrode everything. He walked over swiftly, making up his mind, knowing what needed to be done.

Lex unfroze and pulled out the needle. It was the only option. He saw it as Clark realized what he was about to do, the small step forward Clark took to stop him, but it was too late. The needle was in and Lex felt himself fall, warm arms catching him before he hit the ground.

No, God...this wasn't him...it wasn't real...

Smallville, first. It started there after all. It had to end there. The corn swayed in the sweet, cool breeze and Lex left his desk to see from the window. Lex could see everything. The lights were blinding but he had to watch, had to know. It spread, one by one, up and up and disappearing past his sight, and Lex could practically feel it in his bones as each and every one hit the ground. The missiles exploded, everywhere, all at once.

It was so beautiful.

There were bodies littering the ground, black and ash, the bones crunching beneath his feet as he walked, echoing. He stopped moving and stood still.

There wasn't any sound.

Lex swallowed the scream as he opened his eyes, felt a warm palm on his legs. "Clark?" He asked, and Clark's hand tightened painfully around his thigh

"Thank God it worked. I have to get this antidote to the hospital." But those words didn't matter right now.

"Lex, you're going to be okay." Clark said, and Lex could see he believed it. Clark looked so relieved--for him, it was over. He tried to smile but his face was cold.

Lex didn't believe.

9~ Unsafe

"Great necklace, sweetheart. It reminds me of those macaroni necklaces that kids make. But I've got other things to do." Clark pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes one last time and smiled fondly.

Grinning, he left Alicia gaping as he fled the barn. He closed his eyes as he ran through the fields, reveling in the sweet smell of the corn, the rush of the air on his face. He arrived at the mansion, hair blown wildly, and he zipped through the mansion with practiced ease, knowing every sharp turn, every priceless piece of art by heart.

He stopped in the doorway of Lex's office, where Lex was glaring at his computer screen. At Clark's appearance, he saw Lex's hand jerk on his knee, but his face remained completely calm and smooth.

Clark liked that it was hard to unnerve Lex.

Hard, but not impossible. He smirked and strode up to the desk as Lex asked what brought him by. Clark carelessly shifted a stapler to the left so he could sit on the corner.

"I've been thinking." Clark started.

Lex's mouth twitched, but he simply clasped his hands expectantly.

"I think you should reconsider that penthouse idea we had. Remember that?"

Lex's head jerked up and he gripped the arms of his chair so hard his hands were turning white.

"That was a good couple years ago, Clark. A lot has changed since then."

"Not really. When you think about it. Clark Kent and Lex Luthor still sounds good, right?"

Lex swallowed and reached up with his hand. Thinking he was going to touch his face, pull him down, Clark let him do what he wished. Lex's fingers caught on the necklace and he released his hand. A thousand things seemed to flash through Lex's eyes, and Clark was able to discern all of them: Want, hurt, anger, fear, shock, triumph...

But mostly the hunger which wound up winning.

Clark slid a little closer, so that if he moved his leg an inch, it'd fall on Lex's lap. Lex was studying him, heart-rate only slightly increased. Clark wanted to do something about that.

"If I took the necklace off, I'd still want you." Clark whispered, sliding his leg slightly so that his foot rested on the edge of the desk chair.

Lex's heart was nearly running double now.

"I'd bet a lot that you think back to selling me out to my dad, and wonder what you were high on," Clark pointed out, tongue darting to take a quick little taste of Lex's skin.

Lex grabbed hold of Clark's shirt and tugged him down into his lap. "I don't believe in dwelling on the past, Clark."

At Clark's raised eyebrow, and smooth smile, Lex actually flushed. "Tell me you at least learn from your mistakes then." Clark breathed, moving his ass in Lex's lap. Lex leaned his forehead against his chest and pulled away just as quickly.

"I think about the penthouse though," Lex said casually, lifting Clark's shirt, his hands bracing along the vertebrae of Clark's back. "All the things we could have done there. How good you'd look in Armani all the time. How great you'd look when I ripped it off you."

There was a green shimmer to Lex's right, and Clark instinctively moved his arms tighter around Lex. "Alicia." He smirked.

"Turns out with the right incentive, I can get the bracelet off." She said, ignoring the blood around her wrist. Lex twisted around, trying to see.

Clark sighed and reluctantly left Lex's lap. Lex swiveled around, standing swiftly.

"Alicia, our time has passed. What can I say? We'd have had fun, but..." Clark stopped, feeling the tight grip Lex had on his shoulder.

"Now, Clark, don't hurt this lovely woman's feelings. Alicia? I'm Lex."

Alicia's eyes flared, pained. "I don't care. He's mine." She gritted out.

"He's always been mine, whether he knew it or not." Lex said calmly. "But I'm willing to share." Clark looked down at Lex who was scrutinizing the two of them steadily.

"That's--" Alicia started.

"So generous." Clark finished for her, placing a kiss on the side of Lex's mouth, his wrist snaking out to pull Alicia in closer.

"Lex can take of your Dr. McBride problem for you." Alicia bit her lip, glancing between the two of them, obviously unsure, a bit thrown off her game.

"Lex understands too. What it's like to be different." Clark told her, pulling her hand up to rub it against his cheek.

"He won't tell anyone our secrets?" Alicia asked slowly, eyes darting back and forth, and Clark knew they had her.

~The end. Or, the start of something really scary. (And hot. Oh, God, so hot.)

10~ Pariah

Clark couldn't stop seeing her, every time he closed his eyes. He wanted to sleep, and maybe he'd wake up, and this would turn out to be some meteor mutant's doing--this was all a big nightmare, or vision, and he'd get up and Alicia would be there, okay, with just a couple of circles under her eyes from his not believing her. And he'd take her in his arms, and smell her hair, and tell her he was sorry.

Shaking, he crawled up on the sofa and reached for the blanket. It had fallen to the floor. He clutched it over his chest, trying to close his eyes, but then the sounds would overwhelm in a rush. How her laugh resonated when she laughed at something stupid he'd said. How her heart jumped a couple of beats every time he walked into a room.

What a warm rush it had been like to know that he did that to her. Clark started coughing, and it caught in his throat, closing it; it felt it could crush him.

The phone rang in the house, and Clark huddled under the blankets. His parents were out; they'd talked for what had felt like hours today and he'd convinced them to go to that dinner they'd been talking about forever, but he didn't feel like moving. The machine clicked on, and for a second, Clark thought whoever it was would just hang up, but Lex's voice rang out in the kitchen. "Hi, Clark, it's me. I just thought that I'd call and see if you were there. If--"

Clark found himself with the receiver in his hand, having sped across the yard without thinking. "Hi," he said, almost as an afterthought. There was a pause and he thought for a moment Lex had been done with his message.

"I'm sorry about Alicia, Clark."

Clark slid down the wall, clutching the receiver in his hand. He didn't think he'd made a sound, but Lex's tone grew more worried.

"Clark? May I come over?"

"I was just going to ask the same thing." Clark admitted.

"What--for me to come over there, or for you to come over here? I don't really want you driving."

"I can walk." Clark whispered.

"No, I'll just head over there." Lex said, and Clark could hear Lex moving, could hear the jingle of his keys.

"I really don't want to be here." Clark admitted. He wanted to be somewhere Alicia never was, where he didn't smell her strawberry perfume, where he didn't look at a spot and think, that's where Alicia was standing the last time I saw her, that's where Alicia and I hugged, that's where--that's where I found Alicia...

"Okay, so I'll come pick you up," Lex told him, and Clark could hear an engine start up.

"Thanks, Lex." After a minute, he'd forced Lex to hang up; Clark didn't like it when Lex talked and drove. He shuffled over to the sofa and realized something stank, and figured out a second later that it was him. With a sigh, he eyed the staircase. Quick shower, he thought, taking the steps by twos.

He was tugging on a t-shirt just as he heard the engine turn off outside. He sped downstairs and pulled open the door, motioning for Lex to stay in the car. He locked the door and climbed into the car, sinking into soft leather. Lex looked at him for a second and peeled out of the driveway.

Lex didn't say anything, and Clark didn't want him to, because that would just mean he'd have to talk and Clark didn't think he could.

He shut his eyes to the image of corn racing past his window, and drifted off.

Clark woke up outside the bakery, still strapped into Lex's car. Looking around wildly, he caught sight of Lex who had come out bearing a big white bag and a cup of coffee. Clark eyed Lex wordlessly as Lex set the bag down between them.

"Lex, I've been asleep three hours!" He said, glancing at the clock.

"I know. I didn't want to wake you up; and you looked like you could use the sleep. I decided to just drive around for a while. I know the motion of the car gets you tired." Lex grinned, just a small one, but Clark couldn't help but return it.

It felt wrong on his face.

"Now that you're up, we'll go to the mansion," Lex assured, digging around in the bag until he pulled out a chocolate covered, chocolate filled donut and dangled it in front of Clark.

"Sometimes, the good little things add up, and you start feeling better." Lex said seriously. Clark bent down slightly and took a tiny bite.

"Thanks. But I'm just not hungry right now."

"It'll be waiting for you." Lex said, dropping it back in the bag. They passed Main Street in silence, Lex drinking his coffee calmly as his fingers slid over the steering wheel.

Clark couldn't take it anymore.

"I found her, you know. Hanging. Her neck was--her eyes, Lex. I couldn't. I was going to do CPR, but she was so cold. Like she'd been there for awhile. And I didn't hear her."

"Clark..."

"I didn't hear her," Clark repeated, leaning his head across the window.

"Clark, there's--"

"Don't say there's no way I could have!" Clark almost screamed.

A long pause, and then Lex said, "I wasn't going to."

"Lex," Clark started miserably, looking over. "Maybe you should just stop the car and let me out."

Lex took a small sip of his coffee and shook his head. "No, we're almost at the mansion. You can come and beat the shit out of one of my punching bags, or go pass out in a room or something. I get it."

And Clark knew he did, so he shut up.

Clark was curled up on the sofa, staring at the fireplace blankly. Lex was at his desk, and the fast clacking sound of the keys was oddly peaceful.

His gaze shifted to the desk, only to find Lex watching him carefully as he typed.

"I don't know if I loved her, Lex. Not really." Lex blinked and shut the laptop, walking over to the couch. He sat on the cushion when Clark pulled his legs up to his chest.

"It doesn't matter, in the end, does it? You cared a lot about her, and you're going to miss her. Whether you were in love with her isn't really relevant, is it?"

Clark choked a little bit again, and Lex slid closer, taking Clark's hand.

"When you find someone that understands you, or you think that they do, it's a powerful thing, Clark." Clark tried not to clench his fingers around Lex's wrist too tightly. He inhaled and slid closer to Lex, propping his decorative pillow on Lex's thigh and settling there. It probably wasn't the most appropriate thing ever, and Lex might think it was a little weird, but Clark couldn't bring himself to care. Long fingers curled around his shoulder, paused lightly on his neck, and weaved their way up through his hair, hesitantly at first, but massaging quickly in places that made Clark feel drowsy.

Clark closed his eyes again, and only saw the flicker of the flames as an afterimage.

11~ Recruit: Thirty Days of Living With Lois Lane, and How They Changed The Future of the World

Day One

Clark wet his toothbrush under the water for a moment and squeezed the toothpaste without looking.

It spurted all over his hand, and he realized that someone had squeezed it from the middle last time. He rinsed off his hands after scooping some on the brush and set about rearranging the toothpaste so such mishaps wouldn't happen again.

Day Three

Clark went downstairs for breakfast and slid a chair out at the table; just as Lois was pouring milk in her cereal. "Pass me the milk please," he asked, buttering a piece of toast.

"Oh. I don't think there is any." She got up and peered in the fridge. "Nope. Sorry, Smallville."

His dad looked up from the paper. "Well, you know where to go get some, son." He pointed over his shoulder to the pasture.

Clark blinked. "But we're never out of milk. Ever."

Lois held out the empty pitcher, a look of pure glee in her eyes. Clark sulked silently in his chair and ignored her. "I'm not drinking warm milk." He said finally and munched on his toast, annoyed.

"There's orange juice, honey," his mother said, and Clark shook his head. He had a glass of milk and two slices of toast in the morning and that's just how it was done. He'd have to get some at school now, and it always tasted like cardboard from the containers.

The toast was dry and he'd never really realized how much milk made the meal of breakfast.

Clark had sped through his room three times now, and there was still no sign of his book, which he had to finish reading by two o'clock tomorrow for history class. He thought he'd put it right by his dresser, but four x-rays had turned up nothing. He went to the bathroom instead and was just unzipping his pants when he saw his book, tucked neatly behind the lavender candles on the toilet. What the heck?

He fumbled with his jeans and wandered out of the bathroom, almost smacking into Lois.

"Oh, yeah, I was reading that today. Man, they really tax your brains here at Smallville High, huh?" She asked, brushing past him casually and shutting the bathroom door behind her, completely unaware of Clark's glare.

Mars was going to be especially vivid tonight, and Clark had decided to spend the night out in the barn as soon as he finished doing chores.

He'd gotten to the top of the stairs when he saw Lois' bare legs propped up on his pillow. Her feet on the pillow where he put his head.

"Lois!" he protested. "What are you doing in the loft?"

She dangled a cigarette wordlessly in her hand.

"Lois!" He hissed. "My parents wouldn't want you smoking up here!"

"I know, and I'm sorry. I just needed one to think, okay?"

"It smells," Clark said, his nose wrinkling as he maneuvered his telescope into place. "And did you really have to put your feet on my pillow?"

"Oh." She folded her legs so she was sitting pretzel-like on the couch.

"Yeah," Clark rolled his eyes, "because the damage wasn't already done."

"Damage?" She muttered. "Are you saying my feet are dirty?"

"That's what feet are! It's their nature!" Clark yelled, pivoting. "It's not that much to ask for you to not stick them on someone's pillow!"

"Jeez, don't get your panties in a twist, Smallville! I'll get you a pillow from my own bed if you're that bugged."

"And stop calling me that! I have a name. You can use it."

"You're obviously in a foul mood tonight, so you know what? I'm just going to go for a ride." Lois said, swiftly rising and retreating down the stairs.

"You do that." Clark muttered. And then suddenly, he wasn't in the mood to watch Mars at all, so he swung the telescope around listlessly. It landed on the mansion, and Clark realized he hadn't been to see Lex in weeks. He shrugged on a jacket and ran over.

Lex was a little surprised to see him, but Clark lounged on the floor and doodled on printer paper while Lex spoke in a different language on the phone.

"What was that?" Clark asked when Lex had finished his conversation.

"Mandarin." Lex said, holding out a bottle of water questioningly as he poured himself a glass of juice.

"Thanks." Clark responded, taking the bottle from Lex's warm fingers.

"So. You're not adjusting to living with Miss Lane very well?" Lex asked thoughtfully?

"What?" Clark asked, stunned.

"It's a small town." Lex laughed. "Word gets around."

"No, I mean--do people know that I don't like her?"

"Well. I'd venture to say no, unless you're going around drawing little skulls and bones around her name all around Smallville."

Clark glanced down at his paper. "Oh."

"So I'm sensing a reprieve from Miss Lane is needed?" Lex asked thoughtfully.

"Desperately." Clark sighed.

"I have six episodes of Battlestar Galactica with our names on it." Lex smiled.

"And popcorn?" Clark asked hopefully.

"There's still that Jiffy Pop that you brought over," Lex said, wrinkling his nose.

"Oh, shut up. You know you love it." Clark grinned, getting to his feet, already heading for the kitchen.

"Crap," Clark uttered as he picked through his closet. Still no sign of them. "Mom?" He peeked his head out of his room and called down the stairs.

"I'm in the kitchen." She said, so he took the stairs by twos and slid up next to her.

"Do you know where my boxers are? The blue plaid?" He always wore those on test days; he blamed his friends on the team. They all had their weird little rituals and superstitions, but now Clark understood where they were coming from. Those boxers were gold; and he'd gotten ninety or above on every exam since he'd started wearing them.

Lois wandered into the kitchen, blinking blearily then, greeting Clark with a little wave. "'Morning," She yawned.

She was wearing his boxers. His lucky boxers. At Clark's fixed stare, Lois glanced down confusedly. "Oh. Right. Nothing I had was clean, so I kind of crept into your room and pulled on the first thing I saw. I'll wash them today. It's my turn to do laundry after all."

His mom smiled at Lois and shrugged helplessly at Clark. He couldn't wear his lucky boxers after she'd worn them. That'd just be--Clark didn't know what that would be but he didn't like the idea of it at all.

He got an eighty-two on the exam.

Day Twenty-Three

It was lots of little things adding up at this point, and only one really big one.

It was the fourth time in less than three and a half weeks that she'd done it. The first time, he'd laughed it off, and patted her on the back. Nicely. Playfully, even, as he told her that no one used his shampoo in the house. It was his favorite kind, and it had been a gift, and it was expensive.

Lois had nodded seriously, and said, sorry Smallville. He'd taken that to mean it wouldn't happen again.

He had been expecting too much.

The second time, he'd stepped into the shower right after her--and that was another thing. She took fifteen minute showers. He took two minutes, and he had to go to school. Couldn't she just wait until he got out? But, he'd stepped right in and smelt his shampoo lingering in the air. He hefted it in his hands, and sure enough, it felt much lighter than it had yesterday. She had to be one of those people who rinsed and repeated.

He lathered his hair stiltedly, rinsing off even quicker than he did normally, and wrapped a big towel around his waist. Thinking again, he draped another towel over his shoulders.

Clark didn't like the way her eyes swept over him sometimes; like she was trying not to laugh at something, and he didn't know at all what it was.

He thundered down the stairs, shampoo bottle waving wildly in his hand. "Lois, I asked you not to use my shampoo any more!" he said, standing directly in front of her.

She dropped her spoon in her cereal, splashing milk on the table. "You came all the way down here to yell at me for that?" She asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically.

Clark narrowed his eyes. "Look. I don't get possessive about all that much. I just like my shampoo, and if you want to use it, go buy a bottle. Okay?" This was called over his shoulder, as he took the stairs by twos and tossed the shampoo back into the shower.

He'd returned home after a long session at the Torch, tired and dragging. Chloe was piling on the workload since he'd decided to return and all he wanted was a long, hot shower. He shucked off his jeans and tossed his t-shirt and underwear into the corner and stood under the water, waiting for it to warm up.

It didn't. Clark realized someone must've taken a shower a little while ago, and there probably wouldn't be any hot water for at least a couple of hours. Sadly, he finished rinsing off his body wash and tugged his towel off the door.

It was soaking wet.

And he could smell his shampoo right around the middle of the top. Flinging open the door, he padded down to the guest room and knocked once before swinging the door open.

Lois was sprawled out on her bed, arms wrapped around a body pillow, legs curled tightly, fast asleep. Clark noticed that a pillow had fallen off the bed, so he rescued it from the floor, threw it at her head and...paused. No reaction. So he took his soaking towel off and flung that too, and promptly sped out of the room.

But this was the fourth time, and it felt like she had to have just dumped shampoo down the drain to have used that much. Clark held the shampoo protectively to his chest so no one would see as he snuck into his bedroom.

Ha. Now Lois could use his mom's Suave. Lex had given him this shampoo for Christmas, and it was the greatest stuff ever. He hid it behind his shoes and smirked to himself as he dressed for the day.

Clark climbed out of the truck Wednesday night, and put the empty food crates back in the barn. He inhaled deeply, fully expecting the scent of fried chicken to be wafting through the cool winter air, but he still couldn't smell anything yet. It didn't matter though; it was fried chicken night and he'd been looking forward to this since he'd been unable to eat the plastic-y pizza at lunch. His mouth was already watering in anticipation.

He shut the door behind him and unwrapped his scarf. Hanging his coat on the rack, he looked behind him, and had to do a double take.

"Mom?" He squeaked. "What is that?"

"It's eggplant parmesan, Clark." She said, setting his plate.

"I know, but what is it doing here? It's Wednesday."

His father blinked. "Oh, we decided to have chicken tomorrow. Lois mentioned that she was in the mood for this, so she and your mother went shopping."

Lois beamed over the salad. "And doesn't it look wonderful? Your mom is the best cook, Sma--Clark."

Clark looked at the table forlornly, his stomach slightly rolling. The smell was a little obnoxious, and he'd really, really worked himself up to the whole chicken idea.

"You know, I forgot to drop off Mrs. Lake's cucumbers." He said suddenly. "So I'm going to--you know. Do that." He shrugged on his jacket all over again, and flung the scarf around his neck.

"Clark, I'm sure she won't mind if you eat first. Honey, just sit down." His mother's voice called from her seat.

"Nah, it's okay. I'm not really all that hungry anyway."

He heard his father asking, "...not hungry?" concernedly, but Clark ignored him and restarted the truck. He stopped at the KFC in town and picked up a bucket of chicken, a container of the potatoes and gravy, and coleslaw, and picked up two of the chocolate parfaits and six corns on the cob for Lex, because those were his favorites.

He showed up at the mansion, big bag in hand, and Lex nodded at him to come in as he continued to speak on his headset.

Clark munched happily on the floor, spreading out his napkin and his spork so he wouldn't get anything on Lex's carpet. Lex wandered over finally, and looked down at the food. Clark held out a drumstick in offering.

"So what are we watching tonight?" Lex queried, settling in on the couch.

"I'm up for whatever you are," Clark said around his huge bite into a chicken breast.

Lex smirked and raised the drumstick to him slightly.

Clark flung open the doors to the mansion, only to realize Lex wasn't in his office. He frowned. Lex was always in his office these days.

"Lex?" he called, his voice echoing down the halls. He started scanning the building, a little worried. "Lex!?" He moved faster. There hadn't been a meteor mutant in more than four weeks; and God, Clark should've known it was too long.

"Clark?" Lex came out from the kitchen, jogging lightly, looking at him worriedly.

"Are you okay?" Clark asked in a rush.

"Of course. I was getting dinner."

Clark felt like an idiot, yelling like that. It must have been written on his face, because Lex clasped his arm warmly and shifted his plate so it wouldn't spill. "Well, weird things happen sometimes. It's natural to worry with those circumstances being what they are."

"Lex, I have something to tell you."

Lex released his hold on Clark, dipped a piece of his broccoli in cheese and nodded as they slowly walked down the hall.

"Lois uses all the hot water." Lex nodded, managing to look sympathetic even as he chewed.

"And she leaves my towel on the floor, and she's always squeezing the toothpaste the wrong way, and she has my mom make her favorite dinners instead of mine."

"Clark," Lex started as soon as he'd swallowed, but Clark was on a roll. Lex sat on the edge of the couch and dipped another piece of broccoli, listening attentively.

"I can't find half my books anymore, and she's always wearing my shirts, don't get me started on my boxers, and Lex, I'm an alien."

Lex blinked hard twice, hacked and started coughing and Clark felt his knees start to tremble a little. Lex began to rise, promptly lost his balance and tumbled back onto the sofa, still coughing. Clark forced his legs over to him, alarmed at the shade of red on Lex's face.

"Can we pretend I didn't say that out loud? That last part, I mean?" Clark asked, but Lex was motioning frenetically at his throat. Clark exhaled and frantically pulled Lex up to his chest and turned him around sharply, performing the Heimlich, which they'd just learned in health class last year.

A piece of broccoli went flying across the room, plinking on the floor harmlessly. They gawked at it in stunned silence for a moment, until Clark turned Lex around again and stared at his face, arms still around Lex's waist. "Um."

Lex started laughing. "Uh." Clark stammered again. Lex didn't stop laughing, nor did he step out of the circle of Clark's arms. He rested his head on Clark's shoulder and continued to shake. Clark didn't know what to do, so he just stood still and gingerly patted Lex's back a couple of times, just to be sure all the broccoli was cleared.

Lex managed to compose himself enough to take a small step back. Clark let him, unable to meet Lex's gaze.

"No." Lex stated clearly, rubbing at his throat gingerly.

"I. Really am." Clark whispered.

"No fucking kidding, Clark. But--I mean, no, we can't pretend you didn't say it aloud."

It was Clark's turn to shake now, and he had to sit down on the couch before his legs completely gave out on him.

He buried his face in his hands, unsure of what to do. He felt the couch depress under Lex's weight, heard Lex slide closer, and then there was a warm, hesitant palm on his back, rubbing in slow, soft circles.

"I won't tell anyone. Ever. You have to know that."

Clark sat back a little, eyeing Lex.

"I mean, it'd be almost as detrimental to me as it would to you. They'd ask how I reacted when I found out, and I'd have to tell them I choked on a vegetable, and that you'd had to save my life again."

Clark managed to hold back a snort. "I don't believe that it was an accident, that it just slipped out like that," Lex continued swiftly. "You had to, on some level, want to tell me."

"You're taking it all really well." Clark observed disbelievingly.

"It's not all that much of a shock. The--bigger surprise is that you actually said it aloud."

Clark narrowed his eyes. "I've lied to you. From the day we met, you know that and I know it. And you've said over and over how you can't trust people if they've lied to you once, and--"

Clark stopped because Lex was holding a finger to his lips. "I haven't said any of that in over a year; have you noticed? We all say things and don't realize that sometimes, there are...loopholes."

"Am I a loophole, Lex?" Clark asked, barely daring to hope. But the way--the way Lex was looking at him, blue eyes bright and huge and glittering...

"I haven't been the kind of friend you've needed at times either." Lex pointed out. "I think--I'd like to see us try and do better."

Clark couldn't do anything but nod, feeling oddly out of breath.

Lex stood and walked over to the bar; poured them each a shot of brandy. "We both deserve this."

Clark nodded dumbly, taking the glass. "What should we drink to?" Lex queried.

Clark shook his head helplessly.

Lex sat silently and thought for a moment. "So. Junk mail, Clark?" He asked, raising his glass with a glinting smile.

Clark stared and almost dropped the glass. He didn't think his cheeks would ever stop burning.

12~ Recruit

Lex came out of his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. "Yes, Clark?"

His shirt was...slightly askew, like it had been pulled back on rapidly. Clark felt his cheeks warm. Lex must have company.

"You must have company." He stammered aloud. "I'll just--be going." He couldn't help it; he was curious. His eyes switched to x-ray, and glancing in Lex's bedroom stopped him cold.

Jason.

Jason, on Lex's bed. Reclining on a pillow. Lex had grasped Clark's shoulder and was leading him away swiftly, but Clark stood still in the hallway.

"Why are you with Lana's boyfriend?" He asked, blinking hard.

Lex narrowed his eyes. "What makes you think I'm with Jason?"

Clark stilled. Lex gripped his shoulder harder. Clark thought he should probably pretend to wince from the pressure, but he didn't care. "Lex."

"No. You tell me what makes you believe Jason's in there; and I'll tell you what you want to know."

Clark pushed past him and shoved open the door.

"What do you think you're doing to Lana?" He almost shouted, but refrained, barely.

Jason's eyes widened and he rose to his feet. "There is no Lana, not anymore."

Clark stood silently for a moment, and then whirled to meet Lex's smooth stare. "I've interrupted you. I'll let you get back--" and why did his tongue feel as though it were wrapped in cotton? "...to it." He bit his lip and slammed the door hard behind him.

He half-expected Lex to call after him, to ask him to stop, but Lex didn't come and Clark told himself he wouldn't have wanted him to anyway.

13~ Krypto

491 word coda--this site does not allow for RPF and though this has absolutely no pairing--it's about the dog, and why he barked at Lex, okay? But--I wanted to play it safe and send you to my journal instead:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/svmadelyn/191064.html

14~ Lucy

Stopstopstopstop. The pleases had stopped days ago and her vessel's voice was growing ragged, less tangible.

Not much longer now, she thought, pleased, applying some of the color to her lips and looking back at the reflection with distaste.

Do you have anything that isn't this sad imitation of rouge? She asked, throwing the lipstick back into a drawer.

Lana remained stubbornly quiet. She bit her tongue and applied more of the gloss, shuddering. She peered in the drawer for the toothpaste, but warm arms wrapped around her from behind, distracting.

Jason, please. And back again. She smiled again at the mirror, at Jason. She wrapped her fingers around his, reveling in the solid feel.

"Feeling a little better?" He asked, his breath moving the hair she had just managed to pull into place. She didn't let it bother her though, soon enough the house of Teague would fall, and she would be rid of this foolish boy forever.

"I was a little scared to sleep last night. You know I twisted and turned. I hope I didn't keep you up?" She asked innocently.

"No," He chuckled, lying. She had elbowed him every time she'd sensed he'd been about to fall asleep. Sometimes, the small advantages, like sleep deprivation, added up and allowed swifter victories against an enemy.

"I'm going to go to the bakery before school." She pressed her lips to his cheek swiftly and ducked around his arms.

She heard him calling goodbye; but she was already halfway down the stairs.

"Mr. Luthor," She walked in, taking a look around to ensure they were alone. He looked up from his desk, an expression of perfect disinterest on his face, but she knew better.

Isobel stood over the seated man. She opened her purse and pulled out the red cloth, unwrapping the stone in front of him. He didn't move.

She extended her hand, palm down, back up. Eyes widening, he extended his right and took her fingers loosely, pressing his lips to the back of her hand. Nodding in approval, she didn't pull away. Isobel continued: "I thought I should introduce myself, since we're about to be such good friends. Countess Isobel Marguerite..."

"Theroux." The man finished softly, eyes glittering. "A pleasure, Countess."

"And you, Lionel Luthor? Are you at my service?" She asked, only half-teasing.

"You do have a certain style all your own." Lionel smirked, dropping her hand, reaching for the stone, riveted.

He would do.

15~ Onyx: Three Scenes That Didn't Happen in Onyx But Really Should Have

Alexander/Lex

He knows how to make him hurt, better than anyone else.

"Clark's friendship is a lie," Alexander whispers, the consonants sibilant.

Lex twists his head away, but it's useless with the chains.

"You want him to be proud. Or at the least, not to be ashamed. But he doesn't even notice, Lex. You're nothing to him."

Lex shuts his eyes. Alexander understands why. Closing his eyes could make him go away. Closing his eyes can make this room disappear, like Lex isn't here at all.

"I'm all you have now. I'm all you've ever had; the only one you could really trust to look after your best interests. It's because of me that you've survived. The meteor shower. The island. The old man. It was all me." Alexander wraps his hand loosely around Lex's throat.

"Just go away," Lex says miserably.

"But where's the fun in that? It's rather amusing, when you think about it. There's two people in the world you're desperate for, and neither of them ever gave a damn about you. They don't care if you live or die. How could they? You're weak." Alexander lets his grip tighten, pleased at Lex's startled, choked shudder. He trails his other hand down Lex's stomach, stopping just below his navel.

"But I'm part of you. I understand you. I. Know." He pulls the mask off swiftly, and dips his hand below Lex's pants, knowing where to go, how to trail one finger just so lightly behind the rest, enjoying the bright, watery glimpse of Lex's eyes, shocked, but not at all surprised that he would do this.

He strokes slowly, just the way he likes it, just the way he knows Clark would, will, someday. Lex's soft whimpers warm the room. It's not much longer now, he knows. Lex has always been swayed more by words than by talented hands though.

"You only wanted to be loved." He keeps his voice still, calm, like he's talking to a child, and in a way, he is.

Lex comes. Biting his lip, Alexander pulls out his hand drenched in come, and smoothes it across Lex's head before he rises, rubbing it in hard in just the right sensitive spots, stalking swiftly toward the door. He turns, and rests his head against the doorframe.

"See, Lex? Even now, after everything, you're still weak. How....pitiful."

Alexander shuts the door silently, knowing it'll echo for hours.

Alexander/Kal-El

"With that whole friendship thing no longer blinding me, I think you'll find our relationship far more interesting," Alexander whispers in Clark's ear, like they're lovers already.

Clark shudders on the ground, still trying to crawl away from the stone. "Pretty, pretty crazy boy." Alexander says indulgently. "Didn't you hear anything I just said? I didn't paint a horrifying picture, Clark. But."

Clark managed to glare at him, eyelashes fluttering and something in Alexander's chest catches. Clark was so beautiful, writhing on the floor, all his.

"It'll be ever so much more fun if you want this the way that I do, don't you think? I have a hypothesis. I'd like for you to be my lab rat." Alexander grins, and pulls out a small lead box.

"I apologize for the gaudiness. A man has to make do when there's only one jeweler in town open who's able to replace a simple stone." Alexander tugs open the box, slipping it on Clark's finger.

"I feel so connected to you now," He breathes, only half-teasing, as he pushes the meteor rock into the box, shutting it three quarters of the way.

Clark's eyes flash red and he eases himself onto his elbows, wordlessly staring at Alexander stroking the box.

He places his hand on Clark's knee, and presses, spreading his fingers as he works his way up Clark's thigh. Clark still doesn't say anything; just tilts his head back, and all Alexander can think is how well the moonlight and Clark suit one another.

Suddenly, the box is flung halfway across the room, but that wasn't anything unexpected. Alexander laughs, his hand squeezing now that it has finally reached its destination.

Clark pulls him down so that their foreheads are resting against one another, his hand gripping Alexander's neck a little too tightly, but he revels in the strength, the power.

"If we're going to rule the world, it's only fitting you address me by my true name."

Alexander thinks that if Clark keeps using that voice, he could get used to calling him anything he wants. "And that is?"

"Kal-El."

Oh. Oh. "Fuck," Alexander says, moving to kneel in between Kal's thighs. Kal twists suddenly and smiles, teeth bright in the relative darkness. They thrust almost silently against one another at first, the only sound in the loft that of jeans and wool pants sliding together, but it's Kal who breaks first and growls.

The buttons pling across the walls after Kal rips open his shirt and sighs a little. His big fingers tug at his right nipple first, his tongue flickering across the left in a series of quick little motions that leave Alexander more turned on then he's ever been in his life. Kal licks but moves on to bite, and it's hard enough to make Alexander groan and rub against Kal's cock now almost breaking through the zipper on his jeans. Kal grins again, lightning fast across his face, snakes a hand down, and rips the zipper too as he exposes Alexander's cock to the fresh farm air.

Something about the thought finally pushes him over, and he lets himself collapse on top of Kal.

"I like you better than the other one." They each say a moment later, and blink, a little surprised.

The laughter echoes across the barn.

Lex

"A man can't deny his true nature, can he, Lex?"

Lex feels like he can barely breathe.

"No. We're Luthors."

Lex grips the glass in his hand tightly, wishing to god he'd had security cameras in the office at least, so he'd know what the fuck dad was talking about. Dad's watching him carefully, like he's not sure if Lex is going to jump him.

He's eyeing him like he enjoys the thought. "We're Luthors."

His fingers squeeze around the glass hard, but he doesn't notice the crack starting. "One day, I'll be king."

Lex knows better than to argue anymore.

16~ Spirit

"The crown's mine, bitch!" Her hair didn't tousle so well in this body but who cared? She was still hot, even if she was a he now.

"Dawn!" Jonathan Kent's voice barked out, and Dawn felt oddly queasy as she turned to face him.

She didn't relish the feeling, so she thrust the mop at him and felt a small surge of satisfaction when his coat started to catch fire. The green thing that was glowing in his hand skidded across the room. He lurched after it even as he was trying to rip off the jacket.

This town was So Weird. Gripping the mop again, she smacked Mr. Kent across the back one last time and started to run up the stairs.

She was outside in the blink of an eye. "My, my, Clark." She said aloud, feeling her--his chest. Damn. The boy was built, he could fling people across a room and he could move faster than the eye could see?

"Genius!" She giggled.

"What's that, Clark?" There was a sleek, low voice coming from a guy propped up against the building.

She eyed him carefully. Huh. Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor at a high school prom. Again, town, So Weird. She'd heard he and Clark were friends, all of them had wondered about it, but she'd never really believed it. Kent had started out such a spaz; it was only this year that he'd started to be cool and make his mark on Smallville High history.

Hmm. She still didn't think they were friends; they were just from far too different circles. Dawn knew all about that. She wouldn't be caught dead hanging around with someone like Clark Kent if she were Lex Luthor. It had to be something else...

"Lex." She said, walking forward slowly. She wasn't sure how to walk in this new body, and guys walked so differently than girls. Think lumbering ape, she decided. Lex was watching her with this odd mixture of amusement and...something else.

So that's why Clark was friends with this guy. Pretty boy meets pretty man and there you go. She knew that equation better than anyone. Smiling when she reached him, she gripped his sleeve, hoping she wasn't like, crushing his arm or something.

"I thought I'd just pop in, see how the band was going over. I didn't mean for anyone to see me." Lex said, glancing at her hand on his sleeve even as he took a small drink of the punch.

"You spiked the punch?" Dawn asked as she caught the telltale smell. "Give me!" She took it from his hand and pressed her lips to the same exact spot she'd seen him drink from. Guys went crazy over that sort of thing, and billionaires weren't any different. Lex's very nice eyes flashed.

"Wanna come in and dance with me?" She purred.

Lex blinked rapidly and she remembered. Oh yeah. Two guys dancing, prom...huh. Well, the whole place was about to like, blow up anyway, so she might as well give them something to talk about and do her cool new speed thing when she heard the boom.

"I'm serious, Lex. We could go in there and dance."

"Why don't we stay out here?" Lex asked quietly, taking her hand in his and pulling her in closer, eyes wide and punch glass pitched to the grass.

"Okay, if you insist" She shrugged and put her chin on Lex's shoulder. It was so weird, but their bodies fit together nicely. It didn't hurt at all to bend down like this because Lex was a little shorter. She felt his hand move lower down her back. His hips moved in perfect tune with the music, and damn it, this should have been her perfect prom moment. Gorgeous, rich guy, good music, and her crown all dancing under the stars. Lex's hand was warm through the tux and it stroked in rhythm with the song.

"I have to ask what brought this on, Clark."

"It's prom. Everyone should get to dance at a prom." She sighed. "Just dance with me, okay?" Lex fell silent, his cheek warm against hers.

His. What the hell ever. "I guess it doesn't matter. I never thought you'd ask." Lex snickered lightly under his breath.

"Lex, get away from her!" Oh. Oh hell no. It was the blonde bitch who'd stolen her crown again. She was waving around that bright green rock Mr. Kent had held, and Dawn felt her knees buckle.

"What is that thing?" She cried. "What are you doing!"

"It's time for you to leave, Dawn." Chloe said simply and crept closer with the rock.

Dawn felt lighter and lighter, like she was rising...

The last words she heard were Chloe telling Clark he had to get downstairs and take care of the fire.

17~ Forever
(In lieu of a ficlet, I wrote internal scenes, of a fashion.)

http://www.livejournal.com/users/svmadelyn/225669.html

18~ Commencement

Lana gasped as the--oh, God, ship--opened slowly, silently, reminding her of a Venus flytrap for some insane reason. She backed away as quickly as her leg would let her, but she lost her balance and tumbled down the small pile of dirt, the soil sticking and stinging her blood soaked jeans. She winced at the pain, but no, she had to move, it was--it was opening and that meant...

That meant something was coming out. She managed to get to her feet again for a second and lurched forward, but a hand on her shoulder snapped her progress, and she fell backwards, landing hard. Lana tried screaming, but the hand on her mouth stifled her and she stared, eyes widening as she felt the tears start, as she saw the--the thing changing, morphing.

Her own eyes stared back blankly, and it tilted its head to the left, like it was trying to figure out what she was, why she was there. Lana tried to bite around the hand, but it moved swiftly, sliding down her neck.

"What are you?" She whispered, but the hand tightened. "What--what--" What do you want, she tried to say. But the last thing she saw was a weirdly shaped gun pointed right at her face.

"What are you?" Lana, she was Lana for now, she knew. "What--what?" The words were harsh and did not feel right in this mouth. She rose and looked around. Something was not correct.

The other was wearing--"clothes," she tested out the sound. She would have to wear clothes. She tugged on the ship and frowned. Things had been strewn around; the landing had been harsher than expected. She tucked the projector safely in the back bin and pulled out a replicator. She produced the exact same threads as the girl; and now, now she felt in place.

Pulling out the materials he would eventually need efficiently and tossing them onto the grass, she pushed the small button outside the cockpit and watched as the ship collapsed in upon itself. It would remain the size of her fist until Kal-El had need of it. She slid all of these things into a piece of gear stowed in the ship and looked around. Fire everywhere, and loud sirens in the distance.

She sealed up the ground that had leant itself to this landing with a wave of the replicator, and set off.

The caves would be east, and she would have to hurry.

Lana was floating. Her legs kicked out, and no, shouldn't have done that. She screamed loudly.

There wasn't any sound. There wasn't any sound. She twisted around wildly and tried to yell again, someone had to hear; someone had to help her.

Shhhhhh....the whispers were everywhere, surrounding her.

But, help, I need help, she sobbed. Lana realized she hadn't said, she'd thought it.

And they'd heard her. There was a they, she could feel it. A cool hand touched her cheek and Lana realized she'd closed her eyes.

It's alright. You're safe now. We're all here.

Lana opened her eyes again, hoping. She screamed again.

Really. You need to stop doing that. The words were gentle, kind, but with the sort of steel underneath that promised bad things if she wasn't listened to.

...why do you all look like me? Lana asked, trying to say it the same way she'd told them she needed help. They seemed to have heard her then.

What makes you think you don't look like us?

Alexander. Important. Not to be killed. She buried her nose in his shoulder; it was what this body was telling her to do.

"I am looking for--Clark."

He pushed her away, eyes narrowing.

"What made you think to look here?"

"Where else would he be?" She asked, wondering at the girl who was making frantic chopping noises at her own throat.

"The stones. They've been reunited. I must go to him," she murmured, seeing the podium finally, feeling the energy all but dissipated in the room. "Goodbye, Alexander."

"Lana, wait!" He called after her, swinging her arm so she was forced to turn. "I don't want you to get hurt. You need to stay with me. You need to tell me what's happened."

He was touching her in a way that constituted affection, she noted with surprise. This would not do.

"But this is not the body you were meant for. You are Kal-El's. You would do well to remember that." She said, surprised at how strongly the response ran.

He made a small, low sound, but let go of her arm. She nodded once, and traced the walls, finally feeling where Kal-El had been sent.

No, I want to get her some new pants! Those are reddened.

Hair! Pants! Hair! Pants!

It all grew to a crescendo so loud that Lana couldn't help but scream for them to stop, just stop.

The silence grew unbearable. She'd startled them, she realized.

One of the--the other hers--started crying. Another hugged that one, and pretty soon, half of them were glaring at her angrily, and the other half were sobbing.

"Why don't you love us? We love you! We just need to be loved." One of them told started the thought, a second chimed in, and the last grew so that all of them were in her head, saying the words. Finally, and they all nodded and started smiling again.

Lana couldn't do anything but gape as three of them started to braid her hair.

The whiteness was everywhere, and it nearly blinded. She shielded her eyes, and followed the path, the tracks in the snow.

"Kal-El!" She called once, but did not know if he would respond to his true name. "Clark! I am seeking you!"

The words--were right. But not right. "Clark!" She tried again, running faster. She could not be late. The glint of the stone caught her eye, and she smiled against the sunlight.

Kal-El looked at her, uncomprehendingly. "It's coming," she smiled, it was what they did here to convey reassurance.

She smashed the stone mid-air with a flicker of concentration, and felt herself being absorbed, the energy pulling and twisting, melding with her.

"....Lana? Lana?" He screamed, finally processing what was happening.

"Yours," she called, one last time in this form, as she left the sack at his feet as he stared, with an expression of horror.

But it was rumbling, and growing, the rooms and chambers, tall on the side of this cliff, protected from the humans, and she knew she was home.

"Stop keeping secrets! You're lying and keeping secrets!"

"How am I lying! I don't know why I'm here! I just want to go home!"

"Do you have parents to return to? People who love you who await you? We don't."

They felt...jealous. Lana shivered. "No, my parents--"

"Died, died, they all died!" One of them crowed, and it grew again, the cacophony, and all Lana wanted to do was just shut them out, shut them up.

She didn't want to hear her own voice again for as long as she lived.

Clark stared at the building, stretched out as far as he could see. Gleaming and white, and completely alien.

He picked up the bag the--that wasn't Lana, couldn't have been, he told himself--girl had tossed.

A weird gun thing, he thought, examining it slowly. There were swirls and a lens, like...like some whole other world, he thought dizzily. He shoved it back in the bag and rooted through the contents. What the heck did any of these things...do?

He looked up again nervously at the structure.

Shit. That was a door. It--a golden handle? He looked around again, not really seeing a choice. Sure, he could take off at a run, but what would be the point? Jor-El would probably just drag him back, so he had to see this through.

Whatever this was.

With a shift of the sack onto his shoulder, he pushed in the door, and to his surprise, it took a good amount of effort.

"....hello?" He called anxiously, but it only echoed.

"Jor-El?" Clark asked, setting the bag in a corner.

"Greetings, Kal-El."

Clark stood in the entrance, gaping. There were statues, bigger than any he'd ever seen, and nothing else in the room. They were holding a round object, and looking more carefully, Clark realized it was a globe. A planet.

"Jor-El and Lara-El. With Krypton," the voice said helpfully.

"I--those are my parents?" His chest felt tight. His dad...well, his dad didn't look like such an asshole here. His mom....this woman, she looked like his mom.

"You have succeeded in accomplishing what you must here, for now. You must leave."

"I--what?" Clark could hear his voice squeak and echo in the massive halls. "Look, what the heck is this place? What just happened? Where's Lana?"

The voice fell silent. "You are meant to go back now. You are needed."

Clark felt his muscles seize up at that. "Is my family in trouble? My friends? What happened?"

"You reunited the stones. All is as it should be."

Clark knew he was gaping again, but couldn't help it.

"I need a little bit more of an explanation than that." He couldn't quite keep the petulance out of his tone.

It was weird, this silence. It was like he could fill it in with mental blanks. Shut up, you punk kid, don't ask me stupid questions.

"Let me guess. All will be revealed in good time? Oh. And I'll fulfill my duty?" Clark was trying, he really was, not to get vaporized by this--thing. Maybe he should just shut up.

"Go home, Kal-El."

Clark spared the room one last glance, and saw that there were more doors and entries than he could count.

Suddenly, home sounded really good. "Do I--um, take the bag?" he asked, over his shoulder.

The voice hesitated. "No. You may leave that here."

And that was just fine with Clark. He hadn't seen anything important in there anyway.

"Clark, are you okay?" Chloe rushed up to hug him and Clark was mostly just stunned anyone was in the caves at all. He'd just wanted to make sure they were still intact and not emanating some kind of--well, alien light source.

Lex was standing, propped up against a wall, looking at him so lost and tiredly that Clark couldn't help but go over and take Lex's wrist.

"Hey. You okay?"

Lex's attention seemed to refocus on him, and Clark felt a warm tingling in his hand when Lex grasped his hand back.

"I will be," Lex said finally, managing a small smile. Clark returned it, and led his friends out of the caves.

"You both already know," he said softly, once they were outside, stunned at the devastation in the town, the fires still burning brightly in the distance. "And I trust you with it."

He didn't want to look at them though as he sped off to the farm to find his parents.

"Somebody help me! I can't take this!" Lana tossed off the hand of one of the girls touching her hair.

"We can paint! Or sculpt! We're good at anything! Would you like to skate? Wouldn't that be painful, I think your leg is broken...