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He’s been feeling this itch all day. He couldn’t stay at work, because he just wanted to drive and drive. He wanted to drive recklessly and wild, waiting for Clark to show up somehow and save the day. He’s only driving for less than ten minutes when he switches gears and hightails it to the Kent Farm. He doesn’t even stop to think what to do about Jonathan. If Jonathan doesn’t want to see him, so be it. He knows Clark wouldn’t let the man kill him.
Clark doesn’t like killing. He doesn’t want the world to know that he’s got some sort of sun powers. Or rock powers. Or wherever the metahumans of Smallville get their powers. Lex is a metahuman. The meteor shower took away his asthma and hair, but it gave him an extremely high metabolism and a quick healing procession. He turns on the radio, blasting it from his ‘Stang. He swerves around the bend at Loeb Bridge, tempting fate. He scream-sings along with the radio, windows rolled down.
We'll be running down the street, yelling "Kiss my ass!"
I'm like yeah whatever, we're still living like that
When the sun's going down, we'll be raising our cups
Singing, here's to never growing up
Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up
Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up
We live like rock stars...
He swerves again, this time past the Talon to avoid getting mowed down by Pete Ross's car. But Lex really does not give a shit. He laughs maniacally and continues singing.
... they don't know us
We don't give a fuck, and we're never gonna change
Say, won't you say "forever"
Stay, if you stay forever
Hey, we can stay forever young
Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs
With the boom box blaring as we're falling in love
Got a bottle of whatever, but it's getting us drunk
Singing, here's to never growing up
He swings his car past Lana's house and the cemetery, finally slowing just enough so he doesn't strike down the Kent mailbox or disrupt Clark's loft in the barn. He jogs over to the loft, shouting for Clark. When the boy doesn't show up, he presses his luck by turning around to the house. He doesn't knock as he opens the unlocked back door, happily walking inside and brandishing a wad of cash that looks like a bouquet of flowers.
"Anybody home?"
"Lex? Is that you?" Martha walks in with amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Mrs. Kent!" He grins widely. "You look lovely! Please, let me give you this bouquet!"
"What on earth?" She barely gets those words out when Lex thrusts the money into her hands. She only grasps a few bills, but they make her eyes widen. "Lex! These are one-hundred dollar bills! This is over $5000!"
"Is that not enough?" He suddenly looks crestfallen. "I can buy cattle for you. Or a new tractor. A new barn? Do you want my Montana ranch?"
"Lex, sweetie," Martha grabs his shoulders, squeezing them lightly to calm him down. "Why are you trying to hand us so many gifts?"
Without a filter, he looks deep into her eyes and calmly admits, "I want to marry your son, and I'm hoping to get your blessing by helping you with your farm."
Although there are some gears clicking behind her eyes, she remains frozen upon hearing those words fall out of his mouth.
"Lex... do you know what you're saying?"
To her horror, Lex starts bawling and slides into her embrace. He scrambles for safety, clutching at her torso. "Please tell me what I need to do! I just wanna be with Clark! Please don't send me away!"
"How... how about we go to the Talon? Have you eaten anything today, Dear?"
"I don't think so," he says, standing slightly, his face in her hair.
"Let's go. I'll drive."
She drives, letting Lex choose the radio station. She's a little unsure about the control when he rolls down the windows to scream-sing along with the lyrics.
... it don't feel right when it's late at night
And it's just me in my dreams
So I want someone to love, that's what I fucking want
Look, you know it's harder to find in these times
But I got nothing but love on my mind (my mind)
I need a baby with love in my prime
Need an adversary to my "down to marry"
Like, tell me, "That's life" when I'm stressing at night
Be like, "You'll be okay", and, "Everything's all right, " uh
Let me in that thing, 'cause I'm not wanting anything
But your loving, your body, and a little bit of your brain
These days, I'm way too lonely
I'm missing out, I know
These days, I'm way too alone
And I'm known for giving love away, but
I want someone who love me
I need someone who needs me
'Cause it don't feel right...
"... when it's late at night!" Lex finishes when Martha turns off the car. "Where are we?"
"The Talon, remember?"
"Oh, yeah!" He grins like a fool. "Coffee and Clark!"
One step out of the car, however, he feels very distant and incoherent. He faints, and Martha rushes forward so he doesn't hit his head. She carefully lowers him back into the passenger seat and drives to the hospital. Someone is bound to know what is going on.