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‘Kal-El,’ the memory phantom of his biological father greeted him in the Kawatche cave. ‘Have you come to resume your training?’
‘I came for answers,’ said Clark firmly. ‘And my name is Clark.’
‘What is it that you wish to know?’
‘Lex’s sigil,’ said the boy of steel. ‘Why didn’t it prevent me from hurting him?’
‘You understand the mark’s significance, but not its mechanics. All will become clear once you submit yourself to your legacy.’
‘Or you could simply answer the question,’ said Lex from behind Clark’s back.
The farm boy turned around surprised to see his boyfriend. But the billionaire only smiled.
‘Looks like we had the same idea,’ he said and then addressed Jor-El again. ‘Well? We both know you can’t refuse me information. I request that you answer to the fullest why Clark could hurt me despite the sigil.’
The phantom memory went silent for a moment, clearly displeased that Lex’s appearance ruined his chance at manipulating Clark.
‘The envoy sigil is not a physical barrier,’ Jor-El finally spoke. ‘All Kryptonians who know of its existence feel compelled to respect it. To act against it causes anguish but it is possible. It is also punishable by Kryptonian law with the offender being stripped off all their honours and renounced by their house. Animals of the house are doubly compelled to respect the seal, becoming extremely protective over the bearer as, I believe, you have recently experienced.’
Lex and Clark exchanged confused looks.
‘Wait, Shelby?!’ the boy of steel finally surmised. ‘Shelby is from Krypton?!’
‘While Kryptonians had travelled to Earth before,’ Jor-El explained before being prompted by Lex, ‘mine was the first attempt to send an infant. Before risking the life of my own son, I needed to test if the spaceship could sustain such fragile existence.’
‘At least now we know how he was able to bite you, Clark,’ Lex observed. ‘But you haven’t answered my question, Jor-El.’
‘The sigil has no effect on Clark for two reasons,’ the voice resumed. ‘First, because he has thus far renounced his Kryptonian legacy. Second, because he is the one who granted it.’
Lex and Clark both smirked. They were certain if the billionaire hadn’t demanded to be answered to the fullest, Jor-El would’ve undoubtedly omitted the final piece.
‘Kal-El,’ the voice urged. ‘There are many things you do not understand about yourself, your powers and your destiny. I appeal to you to resume you training.’
‘And lose my humanity in the process?’ Clark scoffed.
‘Otherwise, you will end up hurting your loved ones again,’ the voice threatened. ‘And this time it will be more than a sprained wrist.’
‘You tricked me once, Jor-El!’ Clark roared and Lex could swear he heard debris roll off the cave walls. ‘You promised to save my father and it was actually Lex who made Kal-El help him! I have no reason to trust you again and I don’t intend to!’
‘Speaking of Kal-El,’ the billionaire decided to use the opportunity to clear up his doubts. ‘What happened to him?’
‘The part of my son’s consciousness you are referring to,’ Jor-El obliged to the envoy’s request for information, ‘is currently sealed inside his mind. As long as the humanised element of his psyche, which you refer to as “Clark”, is present, the one you call “Kal-El” can only be brought forth at his will.’
‘He can’t be awakened otherwise?’ Lex wanted to clarify. ‘Not even by you?’
‘Not as long as “Clark” is in charge. Not even should he be unconscious, amnesiac or otherwise incapacitated. Does that ease your doubts, heart-warden?’
Both men smiled with relief.
***
‘I swear,’ said Lex later that day on their way back from Kansas City, ‘if there was ever an interstellar worst-father-in-history poll, I wouldn’t know which to vote for – mine or yours!’
Clark giggled at the jest.
‘I still can’t believe my dad lured me into the penitentiary just to assault me,’ the billionaire shook his head. ‘I mean, that’s low even for him. And what was even the point?’
‘To get back at you? Anyway, I’m just glad I was there to stop him,’ said the farm boy.
‘Ever the saviour,’ Lex smiled.
He switched the gear and placed his hand on top of Clark’s knee, not overly intimately, but simply to express tender gratitude. However, for a split-second he could swear his boyfriend’s thigh tensed up under his touch.
‘How’s your head, by the way?’ the billionaire asked. ‘Did you figure out what was causing that ringing?’
‘Uhh, no,’ said Clark. ‘It’s gone now. I haven’t the foggiest what it was.’
‘Weird,’ Lex shrugged, pulling up in front of the Kent farm. ‘I’ll see you in the evening?’
‘Actually,’ said the farm boy, ‘I’ve got a lot of school work to do. I’ll come over when I’m free.’
Lex tried not to show disappointment. Clark had recently missed two months of school. The last thing he needed right now was a clingy boyfriend.
‘Sure thing,’ he said with a tender smile.
He put his arm over Clark’s backrest and leaned forwards to kiss him, but to his surprise Clark ignored the gesture completely and got out of the car.
‘Thanks for the ride,’ he said casually. ‘Bye!’
That moment Lex knew something was wrong.
***
Lex managed to keep himself occupied for the next two days. He had texted Clark once or twice, but only to receive superficial replies. Otherwise, he hadn’t heard from his boyfriend at all.
That night Lana came over to deliver the payroll from The Talon.
‘How’s Clark, by the way?’ Lex couldn’t resist asking, although he tried to make it sound as casual as possible. ‘Must be pretty busy studying?’
‘Studying?’ Lana chuckled. ‘Are you kidding me? I feel like all he does these days is sit at The Talon the whole afternoon and hit on girls!’
‘I’m sorry, what?’ the billionaire was sure the girl was pulling his leg. ‘Are we still talking about Clark Kent?’
Lana nodded with an expression communicating that she was just as puzzled.
‘It’s like he’s a completely different person,’ she said. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he’s over the trauma, but now he’s taking it way too far. Started dressing up, keeps using these suave pick-up lines. Yesterday he almost kissed me! I actually had to slap him in the face to make him stop! Chloe told me he tried flirting with her, too.’
Lex was listening completely flabbergasted. What the hell was going on?
***
He was leaning against his Maserati parked in front of the Kents’ house, patiently waiting for Clark to return. Finally, around eleven at night, he saw Jonathan Kent’s Dodge Ram pull up at the driveway and the farm boy get out. To Lex’s surprise, rather than the usual plaid, the young Kent was wearing a neatly pressed light blue shirt and instead of jeans – a pair of semi-formal beige trousers.
‘Clark!’ the billionaire called up.
‘Oh, hello, Lex,’ Clark responded. ‘What’s up?’
‘Just wanted to talk,’ Lex tried to act casual.
‘Okay,’ the farm boy sounded friendly, but his voice lacked the tenderness Lex was so used to by now. ‘How’s your wrist?’
The billionaire felt a shiver run down his spine. Was that what it was about? Was Clark still feeling guilty about hurting him? He did worry his boyfriend might try to distance himself because of it.
‘Honestly,’ he responded with a warm and genuine smile, ‘if it wasn’t for the orthosis, I’d probably forget it was ever sprained.’
‘Good,’ said Clark indifferently. ‘So, what did you want to talk about?’
‘I hear you’ve been frequenting The Talon a lot,’ Lex observed.
‘So?’ Clark shrugged. ‘What’s it to you?’
The billionaire felt his heartbeat increase. Something was definitely wrong.
‘Lana said you’ve been…,’ he hesitated, ‘overly friendly with her and other girls.’
Clark chuckled and sent Lex a scornful look.
‘Truly, Lex,’ the farm boy scoffed, ‘I don’t see how that’s any of your business.’
Lex couldn’t believe was he was hearing. For a moment he was struggling to find another explanation, but he couldn’t. He had to accept the only interpretation of his boyfriend’s words.
‘Clark,’ Lex could hardly summon his voice. ‘Are you breaking up with me?’
For a moment the farm boy looked at him with a blank expression as if he had forgotten they were ever a couple. And then his eyes squinted with disgust.
‘Yes, Lex,’ he finally responded, his voice utterly dispassionate. ‘I thought you could read between the lines. This is me breaking up with you.’
Lex’s heart sunk. He felt dizzy looking at his beloved’s emotionless face. Why?!
‘Clark… if this is about my wrist…’
‘It has nothing to do with your wrist,’ Clark sighed impatiently and rolled his eyes. ‘Look, it was fun while it lasted, but I’m still young and it is high time that I move on and engage in a more prospective relationship. And I suggest you do the same.’
Not waiting for a response, the farm boy turned around and began walking away. This isn’t happening, thought Lex desperately. And, he now realised, perhaps it wasn’t.
‘Clark, do you remember that thing I gave you for Valentines?’ he said, trying to sound unemotional.
‘You mean that necklace with five diamonds?’ said Clark, looking over his shoulder. ‘I’m afraid I don’t have it on me. If you wish, I can get it for you.’
The last faint ray of hope died. It really was Clark. Not a shapeshifter, not Kal-El. Clark Kent had just ended their relationship. Part of Lex wanted to throw himself at the farm boy, to scream, cry, beg him to stay, recount all they’d been through the past months. But he clenched his teeth instead. His dignity was all he had left right now.
‘Keep it,’ he managed to say before getting back to his car.
***
The speedometer was clocking at nearly 170 mph, the tyres screeching mercilessly at every reckless turn for the full ten minutes before Lex braked abruptly right in front of his mansion. His eyes were burning from the wind as he got out, but at least the air dried up his face.
He trotted straight into his office, flounced right towards the glass-top bar and reached for the decanter. These days, alcohol was only served to the guests due to his liver disease. But tonight he didn’t care. He poured the amber liquid into the glass until it overflew and drained it in a single gulp. He panted only once before refilling the tumbler.
He raised the glass to his lips, but only took a sip. The single malt wasn’t affecting him and he realised now that given his condition he’d sooner drink himself dead than get drunk. He squeezed the tumbler in his hand and with all his might smashed it against the wall. The decanter followed. He was hunting for another breakable object when he heard a soft whimper.
‘Shelby?’ called Lex trying to make out the fluffy shape in the darkness.
The dog approached him with his head lowered insecurely, but his tail waggling. The billionaire crouched down and gave him a pet. He pondered briefly how the animal got into the mansion but quickly worked out that with his otherworldly origin it was perfectly feasible for Shelby to sneak past the staff.
He now put his arms over the canine, grateful for the soothing company.
***
He woke up on the sofa to the sound of his phone. He vaguely remembered falling asleep with Shelby comfortably spread across his lap, but now the dog must’ve wandered off. Perhaps he returned to the farm?
‘Hello, Lex Luthor speaking,’ he answered the call, rubbing his eyes.
‘Good morning, sir’ greeted him a formally sounding woman. ‘This is Kansas State Penitentiary. Will you accept the call from the inmate Lionel Luthor?’
Lex’s first instinct was to refuse but it occurred to him that he could use an emotional punching bag right now and his manipulative father felt perfect for the role.
‘Fine,’ he grunted.
‘Lex!’ he heard after a moment it took the operator to redirect the call.
‘What kind of con did you cook up this time?’ the billionaire hissed with utmost disdain.
‘Cassiopeia,’ said the voice on the other end of the line.
Lex felt his heart skip a beat.
‘What?’
‘And its largest neighbour is Andromeda,’ Lionel’s voice was speaking quickly. ‘Lex, it’s me. When I touched your dad, he swapped bodies with me. I wanted to call you right away but I had to wait for my turn.’
Lex’s head was spinning. He wanted to believe this so desperately. But he had checked last night.
‘Prove it,’ he muttered, shaking.
‘Prove what?’
‘Prove that it’s you!’
‘But I just have.’
‘And yesterday you knew about the necklace!’
‘What? How?!’ the old billionaire’s voice sounded thunderstruck. ‘I don’t have access to your dad’s memories, so how could he know mine?’
‘I asked about the Valentines gift and I heard “a necklace with five diamonds”,’ the billionaire recounted. ‘If that was my dad, how the hell did he know?’
‘Lex,’ Lionel’s voice spoke after a couple of seconds of silence. ‘You realise I had no idea they were diamonds?’
Lex fell silent as the realisation hit him with all its obviousness.
‘But he would’ve recognised them,’ surmised the billionaire.
‘And figured you were the only person who could afford such an expensive gift,’ Clark finished Lex’s thought.
‘And everything else he simply deduced from my own words,’ Lex shook his head in disbelief. Played like a child!
‘Cassiopeia is special because I showed it to you in Alaska and then we kissed for the first time,’ Clark spoke again, not so much to prove himself anymore, but to reassure the billionaire and help him ground within this bizarre reality. ‘We saved a family from an avalanche that night and you couldn’t figure out how I was able to lift you and Cassy into the helicopter. Two months later you found out about me when I saved you from the bombing. Next day you were angry with me and had me act as your human shield when you were shot at. Half a year after we became a couple, I made you my heart-warden. My mum still doesn’t know it means I technically married you.’
Hearing all this, Lex couldn’t keep his emotions in check any longer.
‘Lex, are you crying?’ said the voice with tender concern so eerily incompatible with its bearer.
‘It’s really you!’ the billionaire whispered, sobbing.
‘What happened?’ Clark asked suddenly overcome with worry. ‘Lex, what did he do?!’
‘Physically, nothing,’ Lex tried to regain composure. ‘Just had you break my heart.’
‘Lex,’ Clark sighed compassionately. The voice that wasn’t his was overflowing with care and sorrow. ‘Honey, you know I’d never…’
‘I thought so too,’ said Lex, a bit calmer now. He was slowly comprehending that this was really Clark and last night didn’t happen. ‘That’s why I asked about the necklace.’
‘Hey, Luthor!’ Lex heard a stern voice coming from afar. ‘Your phone time’s over!’
‘Listen, Lex,’ Clark spoke again. ‘I know how to reverse this but you gotta lure your dad to the penitentiary.’
‘Of course,’ the billionaire nodded, refocusing. ‘I’ll get right to it.’
‘And, Lex,’ Clark added with concern. ‘Be careful. He may have discovered my abilities.’
‘Come on!’ the angry voice was urging. ‘Enough with the pillow talk!’
‘Lex, make sure you get some-‘
The call ended abruptly.
Lex got up immediately, his mind already going into overdrive. He must call Martha, warn her about Lionel. He might need her help in luring his dad into the penitentiary. And perhaps she would know what Clark wanted him to get?
‘Hello, Lex,’ the voice of the farm boy interrupted him.
‘Clark,’ he frowned and firmed up. ‘I didn’t think I’d see you again after last night. I told you you could keep the necklace.’
‘I, uhh,’ said Lionel faking awkwardness. ‘I came to apologise.’
‘Oh?’ said the young billionaire with genuine disdain. ‘This should be good.’
‘Yesterday, I wasn’t myself.’
Yeah, no kidding, thought Lex but didn’t let a single emotion show on his face.
‘I’ve been under a lot of stress recently,’ Lionel was making a sorry attempt to make Clark’s face seem guilt-stricken. ‘And I’ve desperately sought to alleviate the tension in the most ill-advised ways.’
Alleviate? Ill-advised? Careful, dad, your billionaire is showing, remarked Lex, unable to comprehend how he had ever failed to see it yesterday.
‘What’s worrying you so much that you had to start cheating on me?’ the young Luthor asked. He didn’t even have to put effort into sounding resentful.
‘I didn’t want to burden you with this,’ Lionel carried on with a deep, painful sigh, ‘The truth is, Lex, my dad’s condition is worse than we thought.’
Wow, just when I thought you couldn’t stoop any lower.
‘I need fifty seven million dollars for his treatment,’ Lionel finished, his tone so painfully dramatic it almost made Lex cringe.
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he said carefully.
He was perfectly aware that the moment his father got his hand on the money, the man would disappear forever and, along with him, his only chance at getting his boyfriend back into his body.
‘Except, I need the money now,’ the old billionaire pressured.
‘Well, I don’t exactly sleep with such an amount of cash under my pillow,’ Lex protested, struggling to come up with a plausible reason to lure Lionel into the penitentiary now that he had leverage.
But he miscalculated. The old billionaire lost his patience. Sooner than the young Luthor could blink, Lionel-Clark was in front of him, his powerful palm wrapped around his son’s throat.
‘Get on the phone, tell them to wire me the money or I’ll snap your larynx like a twig!’ he threatened.
He forced Lex’s head down against the oaken desktop with force capable of crushing rocks. The young billionaire could feel pressure inside his skull rising with blood that couldn’t flow out through the blocked jugular veins. As he grappled hopelessly for a single gasp of air, a rush of reinless terror overcame him. If Lionel decided to kill him there and then, he would. All it took was to squeeze his fingers a little harder and it would be over. For the first time Lex genuinely regretted not insisting that Clark reveal his weakness to him.
Just as he was losing focus in his eyes, he heard aggressive barking. Followed immediately was a sharp painful cry. Lex gasped for air, rolled on his back and coughed against the pulsating soreness of the throat. He saw Shelby on top of Lionel, biting ferociously into his arm. But the old billionaire managed to hit the dog with his elbow straight in the skull, making in crack and gush out blood.
‘Shelby!!’ shouted Lex as the canine whimpered before falling limp on the ground.
Lionel inspected his torn-apart arm and quickly realised it had already began to heal. He snickered.
‘Go ahead, kill me,’ taunted Lex, fighting for a slightest shred of confidence in his voice. ‘The moment I die, all I have goes to charity.’
Lionel hesitated, unable to decide whether his son was bluffing. But then, with two swift movements, he felled the young billionaire on his knees and pulled his arms over his head. Lex felt an overbearing pressure of the man’s foot slowly crushing into his back.
‘Perhaps instead of killing you,’ the old Luthor hissed atrociously. ‘I’ll just put you in a wheelchair for the rest of your sorry life?’
Lex glimpsed at Shelby, but the dog was still unconscious (or, perhaps, dead). He was torn between fear for himself and the thought of losing Clark forever. But he soon realised he had no choice.
‘Fine!’ he screamed. ‘Fine, I’ll give you the money! Just let me go!’
But the monster standing over him sneered viciously.
‘Of course you will,’ he groaned. ‘But only after you’ve paid for everything you did to me, boy!’
The pressure on Lex’s backbone increased gradually, as the old tycoon was clearly relishing in torturing his only child. The pain became excruciating and it made Lex shriek with horror.
‘What’s the matter?’ the powerful monster fleered. ‘Bet you had no idea what secret your boyfriend has been harbouring.’
Except, he did. He knew way more than the old billionaire could ever surmise. There was literally only one thing he had failed to learn about Clark. And this single piece of information was now about to cost him his health and possibly his life. If only he had asked Jor-El about it when he had the chance. If only he could demand it from Kal-El…
He knew it was desperate. Kal-El was most likely stuck inside Lionel’s body together with Clark. But it was the only gamble he had left.
‘Kal-El,’ he grunted against the pain. ‘Kal-El, help me!’
Lex needed a moment before he could truly comprehend that the pressure on his back had disappeared and his hands were free. He collapsed on all four and panted heavily. He managed to look over his shoulder and see the silhouette of the boy of steel crouching over Shelby. The dog had just regained consciousness and was now looking at the Kryptonian with an obliging worship.
‘I require your aid in getting back Clark!’ Lex gasped, still struggling for air, fearing Kal-El might take advantage of the fact he had the sole reign over Clark’s body.
‘That request was unnecessary, heart-warden’ Kal-El responded. ‘After the events in the cave, Clark Kent has become the dominant element of my psyche. I only exist in his unconscious. Without him, my awareness will gradually disintegrate. It is imperative that I retrieve him.’
He walked towards Lex, reached out his hand and helped the billionaire back on his feet.
‘Great,’ said the billionaire trying to surpass the overwhelming throbbing in his back. ‘Let’s go then.’
Kal-El fell silent for a moment, focusing on Lex’s abdomen.
‘No,’ he finally said.
‘Are you refusing me?’ Lex demanded. He attempted to summon all his aura of authority but the pain was making his head spin.
‘To conform to your wish would go against my other obligation to you, heart-warden,’ explained Kal-El. ‘In your current state I am unable to lift you without causing you further harm.’
Lex shuddered, hearing this.
‘Is… my spine damaged?’ he asked with dread.
‘Your spinal cord and vertebrae appear unhurt,’ the Kryptonian answered. ‘But there is a swelling around your spine and it may soon render you temporarily paralysed.’
As if on cue, Lex felt his knees begin to give out. To his surprise, Kal-El leaned forward and caught him, placing his hand carefully under the small of the billionaire’s back.
For a moment, it seemed the Kryptonian was considering some options.
‘Rest your hands on the desk,’ he instructed.
Once Lex did – very slowly and with Kal-El’s assistance – as he was told, the Kryptonian rolled up his shirt and hooked it on the billionaire’s shoulders.
‘Do your best to hold still,’ said the boy of steel. ‘I do not wish to damage your kidneys or give you a frostbite.’
A moment later Lex felt a freezing cold gust of air fall on his skin. He hissed but after the initial shock he realised the sensation was actually bringing him relief and after a minute the throbbing subsided and he could shift more weight back into his legs.
‘How did you do that?’ Lex marvelled once Kal-El was finished.
‘With my breath,’ the Kryptonian replied. ‘Clark Kent has yet to learn this skill.’
He reached his hand towards the billionaire’s jaw and lifted it gently, inspecting his neck. Lex thought he saw concern in the Kryptonian’s face, but he brushed it off. He was simply missing Clark’s tenderness.
‘The damage is superficial,’ Kal-El surmised, referring to the neck. ‘But it will bruise heavily.’
He then offered his arm to Lex for support and slowly led him towards the sofa.
‘Lie down and rest,’ he said. ‘We shall set out as soon as you are well.’
‘Why not go on your own?’ asked Lex once he lay comfortably on the sofa.
‘I may need to reduce that swelling again,’ Kal-El responded coldly, resting his back against the bookshelf and focusing his gaze outside the window. ‘If I leave you, you may come to harm as a result.’
‘You helped me without being beckoned to,’ Lex noted. ‘Why did you?’
Kal-El sighed and it occurred to Lex that he was genuinely displeased at being bound by obligation to respond to his questions.
‘Both you, heart-warden, and Clark Kent share a misconception about me,’ said the Kryptonian. ‘Due to his reluctance to accept his legacy, I came to exist as a separate persona in his unconscious. But I am, in essence, him. The main difference is that I am able to ignore my emotions.’
The Kryptonian looked away from the window and focused his gaze directly on the billionaire with what Lex thought was a subtle tint of a smile.
‘Today I simply chose not to.’
***
An hour later Lex had regained full control of his legs.
‘I know you’ll be mad,’ he said as they were about to leave. ‘But there’s something I need to ask.’
‘I am listening,’ said Kal-El dispassionately.
Lex wavered. He knew this question was going to be a serious breach of Clark’s trust. But, ultimately, he decided he must know.
‘What is Clark’s weakness?’
The Kryptonian sighed.
‘Kryptonite,’ he said. ‘You refer to it as “meteor rock”. The green kind robs Kryptonians of their strength and renders us vulnerable. The red one blocks inhibitions. The effects of the black one you have already witnessed.’
Lex let out an audible gasp. To think he’d had the means to defend himself almost within his reach!
‘I do not understand why this question should anger me,’ commented Kal-El. ‘Your safety relies on this information. I am bewildered as to why he has kept it from you for so long.’
They found themselves on the balcony. Lex half-expected to be lifted in a fireman carry as previously, but to his surprise, Kal-El leaned down, placed his arms underneath the billionaire’s knees and his back and held him firmly in front of his chest. The billionaire wondered if it was due to his recent injury or if there was another reason. However, he decided not to extort this particular information from the Kryptonian.
***
‘Your father’s consciousness is easy to subdue,’ said Kal-El while they were sitting in the visits area waiting for “Lionel Luthor” to be summoned. ‘But it will have to be brought forth for the transference to occur. Otherwise it will be me stuck in his body.’
He glimpsed at the billionaire.
‘And I do not suppose either of you will be pleased with the resulting co-habitation,’ the Kryptonian smirked.
Lex cringed finding the image disturbing on way too many levels.
‘You’re definitely the lesser evil here,’ the billionaire admitted.
They had been waiting for several minutes when the alarm went off. While Lex looked around trying to assess the situation, Kal-El closed his eyes.
‘There is a riot amongst the inmates,’ he ruled after a couple of seconds.
‘That means the prison will go on lockdown,’ said Lex. ‘If they rule Clark was involved, it could be days or weeks before we get a chance to see him.’
They noticed a prison guard headed in their direction, most likely to escort them outside along with the other visitors. Kal-El put his arm under Lex’s thighs and, before the billionaire could even blink, transported them into an empty corridor.
The Kryptonian set Lex back on the ground and, without a word, began surveying the walls. The billionaire guessed immediately what his companion was doing.
‘Did you find him?’ he asked when the boy of steel stilled his gaze.
Kal-El nodded. And then he looked towards the far end of the corridor.
‘The mob may come here at any moment,’ he said matter-of-factly and looked at Lex. ‘You will be safer by my side.’
He caught the billionaire’s hand and led him towards the common room. As they entered, Lex noticed an incoming blow aimed straight at him from a frenzied inmate. But the punch never landed, blocked by Kal-El’s elbow, while the billionaire found himself pushed strongly into the Kryptonian’s muscular chest, his broad palm wrapped protectively around his shoulder.
‘Blow up the cameras,’ said Lex, ‘I don’t want to get Clark in trouble.’
The boy of steel obliged and once he was free of surveillance, he once again lifted the billionaire and jumped over the stair railing. Still in the Kryptonian’s embrace, Lex began to scrutinise the area for the silhouette of his father. While Kal-El was preoccupied warding off the rain of punches, blows and kicks that fell all around them, the young Luthor finally spotted Clark lying motionless on the floor, a deep cut bleeding on his eyebrow. Above him, a massive goon was about to swing a metal table, aiming right at his head.
It would’ve been more rational to simply draw Kal-El’s attention. But at that moment Lex wasn’t thinking rationally. He got free from the Kryptonian’s hold and dived between the legs of the clashing prisoners. He found himself on top of Clark and pressed his eyes shut, prepared to receive the blow. But the hit never came, blocked by Kal-El who instantly came between the billionaire and the aggressor, whom he promptly punched unconscious.
‘For someone so remarkably intelligent,’ the boy of steel grunted, helping Lex up, ‘you can be incredibly stupid.’
He picked up the limp body of Lionel Luthor, wrapping his arm over its waist as if it were a sack of potatoes. Then he placed his other arm under Lex’s thighs, allowing his weight to lean against his chest, and carried both men outside the skirmish.
***
Clark woke up on the cold prison bathroom floor, his head rested on someone’s lap.
‘Hey,’ he was greeted by a soothingly familiar voice.
‘Lex!’ he gasped.
Rolling over on his elbow, he put his other arm around the billionaire’s neck and hugged him. Lex gently returned the embrace.
‘Sorry I took so long,’ he said.
Clark pulled back and leaned closer to his boyfriend’s face, but the billionaire placed his hand on his boyfriend’s torso and moved back abruptly with an awkward grimace.
‘Right!’ the farm boy reflected with a cringe. ‘Wrong packaging!’
‘Definitely wrong packaging,’ Lex agreed.
Only then did Clark spot himself keeping watch at the doorless entrance to the bathroom.
‘Lionel!’ he gasped.
He got right on his feet, reached for his pocket and dashed at his body. He reached out his hand that was clasped around a small black object.
‘Clark, no!’ Lex held him by the elbow, making him drop the item he’d been clutching. ‘That’s not dad!’
Kal-El turned around and looked at Clark with a stern face, his arms crossed at the chest.
‘Hello, self-proclaimed Earthling,’ the Kryptonian spoke disparagingly. He then bent over and picked up the crystal that Clark had dropped.
‘Kal-El?!’ said Clark and looked at Lex in confusion.
‘I had no choice,’ said the billionaire apologetically.
Before he could control himself, Clark looked at his boyfriend sourly.
‘He only did when he was on the verge of being permanently crippled,’ the Kryptonian drawled, his freezing gaze piercing Clark scornfully. ‘And possibly killed.’
‘Kal-El, that’s enough!’ the billionaire protested.
Technically, Lex’s utterance was neither a plea for help nor a request for information, but to the billionaire’s relief, Kal-El obliged. The last thing he needed was for his beloved to feel even more guilty than he already did.
Meanwhile, Clark’s eyes went wide and he held his breath looking at his beloved with anxiousness. He began to scrutinise him in search of any traces of injury and quickly noticed deep red marks across his neck.
‘He tried to strangle you?!’ he uttered with terror.
‘I’m okay,’ the billionaire reassured. ‘It’s just a bruise.’
Lex aimed for a carefree smile, but the anguish painted across the face of the old billionaire wouldn’t disappear. Just as Lex had feared.
‘Heart-warden,’ the boy of steel spoke again, changing the subject. ‘This crystal must be returned to the cave.’
‘This is what caused the transference,’ commented Clark. ‘What is that?’
Rather than answering, the Kryptonian just glared at him in silence that was speaking volumes. You would know that if you hadn’t rejected your destiny. And you wouldn’t have endangered your heart-warden.
‘Kal-El?’ Lex prompted him. He didn’t even have to repeat Clark’s question. The message was clear and received.
‘It is one of three keys to access the temple of Kryptonian knowledge that is intended for him,’ the boy of steel responded.
‘I’m not interested,’ Clark scoffed.
The Kryptonian scowled, but Lex decided to de-escalate, feeling a little like a parent to a couple of five-year-olds.
‘An item so powerful shouldn’t be left in the world,’ he pointed out and then addressed Kal-El. ‘I’ll see to it that it’s returned to Jor-El.’
Kal-El looked at Lex and nodded with appreciation.
‘So, are we ready to do this?’ said Clark, all too eager to return to his own body.
But Kal-El didn’t seem to be listening, focused instead on Lex. Clark tried to rush him, but the Kryptonian raised his hand to stop him. His gaze was fixed on the billionaire’s abdomen. Lex recognised instantly what the alien was doing.
‘Am I good?’ he asked a moment later, when Kal-El’s eyes met his.
‘I believe so,’ said the Kryptonian. ‘Take care of yourself, my heart-warden.’
Having said this, he placed the crystal on the ground for Clark to pick up. Then the alien breathed out slowly and stood perfectly still, as if he were a wax doll. The next moment, the farm boy’s eyes enlivened again and Lionel inhaled sharply. Without a second of hesitation, Clark pressed the crystal against his cheek and both men fell on the floor.
‘Clark!’ Lex kneeled at his boyfriend’s side.
The boy of steel sat up and shook his head to disperse the dizziness.
‘Clark, when I found out about your feelings, what phrase did I use to ask about them?’
‘You said: “Tell me I’m reading this right”,’ the farm boy replied after a pause he needed to focus. ‘What sport do I suck at?’
Lex smirked at Clark’s quick thinking. The old Luthor might as well have somehow swapped bodies with him amidst the confusion.
‘Skiing,’ he answered. ‘Though I think you didn’t do badly at all.’
***
They abandoned Lionel unconscious on the bathroom floor and now returned to Lex’s mansion. Entering Lex’s office, Clark immediately noticed the billionaire’s desk in disarray, papers scattered around, landline phone lying on the floor along with the wrecked laptop. But what drew the farm boy’s attention were stains of blood on the floorboards next to the balcony door.
‘It’s not mine,’ Lex reassured. ‘It’s, well, technically yours. And some of it’s Shelby’s. But he’s fine now.’
‘Shelby was here?’ asked Clark confused.
‘He saved me when dad was choking me,’ the billionaire explained thoughtlessly. His mind was elsewhere, revisiting the recent events with intensity he could hardly ward off.
‘I thought Kal-El did that,’ the boy of steel remarked.
Lex winced, only now realising he had said too much. Given the bruises on his neck, it was inevitable the farm boy would find out about the strangling, but the billionaire was sincerely hoping to keep the latter part to himself.
‘He showed up later,’ he admitted reluctantly.
‘The way he looked at you before we used the crystal,’ Clark now realised. ‘Like he was x-raying you for damage.’
Lex didn’t say a word. Less than a week ago, Clark despaired over his dislocated wrist. He didn’t want to see the dread in his eyes when he learnt what had transpired today. How these strong hands now filled with warmth held him mercilessly, clasped around his forearms, almost pulling his arms from the joints, domineering, atrocious, relentless, while his shod foot pressed at him right to the point of breaking. He now shuddered at the memory.
‘Lex…,’ the boy of steel spoke warily. ‘What was your dad trying to do when you summoned Kal-El?’
Lex faltered. He considered ignoring Clark’s question or asking him to drop the subject, but he realised the farm boy may not be able to let it go and might end up torturing himself with questions and speculations.
‘Snap my backbone in half,’ he finally answered, averting his gaze.
Clark blanched in horror. Without thinking he enabled his x-ray vision and inspected his boyfriend’s spine. Lex recognised what the boy of steel was doing and pointed to the right area.
‘It was swelling, but Kal-El managed to mitigate that,’ he explained.
Clark sighed with relief. For the first time, he didn’t loathe the Kryptonian part of him. He was genuinely glad that his other personality stayed behind when he got transferred and could save Lex in his stead.
He approached his beloved, stood behind him and put his hand over the man’s abdomen, running his other palm down his forearm. It was that moment, when the farm boy’s fingers pressed against his radius, that the image returned, soaring across the billionaire’s mind with overwhelming clarity.
Before he knew it, Lex pushed the farm boy away and cowered against the bookcase. The boy of steel looked at him, startled, but the next moment, he read the message his boyfriend’s dithering body was sending. He calmly took a couple of steps back.
‘I-I’m sorry, I-’ Lex said, trying to regain composure.
But Clark shook his head and looked at his boyfriend with tenderness and understanding.
‘Don’t be,’ he whispered softly.
Lex knew all too well what Clark was going to do now. He would stay by his side, give him his utmost in efforts to comfort him, to cater to his emotional wounds, to ease his fear. All this while enduring the hurt the billionaire would cause him shying away from his closeness. The billionaire now realised – that wasn’t what he needed to heal.
‘Clark,’ he spoke hesitantly. ‘I think… I’d rather be alone now.’
The farm boy’s eyed widened and his lips parted. A frown of sorrow distorted his forehead but he said nothing. Instead, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
Lex saw this sadness painted across his beloved’s face and began to regret his request. He was now trying to put together an explanation along with an apology and a reassurance that this was temporary, only until his brain stops superimposing this horrid memory over his dear boyfriend’s touch. But, as is often the case in such situations, words eluded him completely.
And before Lex managed to say another word, Clark spoke first:
‘Call me if you need me,’ he said quietly, with defeat in his voice. ‘Or Kal-El.’
Lex noted there was no bitterness or jealousy in Clark’s voice when he mentioned his other self. Just acknowledgement that right now he was unable to provide his beloved with what he needed. Before the billionaire could say another word, the boy of steel left.
***
Half an hour later, Lex was sitting in his built-in gym, doing some gentle stretches. He was mindful not to overexert his back. Much as he believed Clark’s reassurance, he couldn’t imagine asking his boyfriend to summon his other personality for him. Besides, he wasn’t really looking for actual exercise, but simply a way to calm his thoughts.
His phone called unexpectedly.
‘Clark?’ he answered having seen the farm boy’s contact appear on the screen.
‘I didn’t want to come inside on my own,’ said the boy of steel, ‘but there’s something I really have to tell you.’
‘Can’t this wait?’ asked the billionaire.
‘I was considering it,’ Clark admitted. ‘But I think it really can’t. If you don’t want to see me, I can say it over the phone, but I’d rather do it in person.’
Lex had a faint idea what Clark might be wanting to tell him.
‘No, it’s okay,’ he replied. ‘I’m downstairs, in the gym.’
When Clark showed up at the door, he seemed as if he was about to confess to a most grievous crime. He brought out the lead box the billionaire had given him a while back. Keeping his distance from his boyfriend, he placed it on a table by the door.
Lex looked at the box and then at Clark.
‘Inside you’ll find a thing that takes away my strength,’ the boy of steel explained.
‘Kryptonite,’ Lex nodded dispassionately. ‘The meteor rock.’
‘How did you-?!’ the farm boy exclaimed.
‘I asked Kal-El,’ the billionaire confessed.
Clark sighed. Given the circumstances, he had no right to hold it against his beloved.
‘That night you asked me about it,’ he said wistfully, ‘I was still scared. Although I had no reason to be. And then I simply didn’t think about it. It was arrogant of me. When I think you could’ve died because of it-’
‘Clark,’ Lex interrupted him. ‘I understand. It’s only effective against you and neither of us ever thought you’d become a threat to me.’
‘Still, I-’ Clark stopped midsentence, realising his boyfriend was avoiding his gaze, his lips pressed together, his posture tense and timid. He let out a quiet sigh as he realised there was nothing he could say or do to alleviate the situation. ‘I’d better go,’ he said.
Lex nodded silently. He was standing with his back turned to the boy of steel, looking outside the window, thinking what the both knew. None of this would’ve happened if he’d known about kryptonite before. Part of him was cross with Clark for not telling him. He would get over it, of course. Ultimately, the whole incident was caused by his own father and Clark only got transferred into his body while protecting the young billionaire. Yet, the thought how close he got to getting killed and how it was now affecting him was still too terrifying.
But then it hit him. What he was doing to Clark right now was almost the same as what Lionel had done to him last night.
‘Clark!’ he called after the farm boy as he was leaving.
The boy of steel turned around at the door and looked at the billionaire with eyes full of anguish. Lex returned the gaze with caring sincerity.
‘This isn’t a breakup,’ he stated firmly. ‘I need some time, but my feelings haven’t changed. And they won’t.’
Hearing this, Clark smiled faintly and sighed with relief.
‘I’ll be waiting,’ the boy of steel promised. ‘As long as you need me to.’