Clark woke early in the morning, still on his daily routine for life at the farm. The bed beneath him was soft and unfamiliar, as were the sheets and blankets above him. A look at the clock on the bedside table showed that he’d gotten about four hours of sleep after tossing and turning most of the night. He’d gotten what he’d wanted; Lex would be able to buy him and somehow use the money to save his parents and the farm. Instead of being relieved, though, all he felt was anxious and uncertain.

He wants me, Clark thought for about the thousandth time.

The same surprise he’d felt after the first time he’d thought it lingered, mixing with a sense of bafflement about why. It wasn’t as though Lex couldn’t have anyone he wanted. He certainly had gorgeous women on his arms often enough going to concerts and events or for no reason at all.

So my life will be going to school, doing my homework, and…having sex with Lex?

It was no less a bizarre thought now, than when he’d parted from Lex the night before. Maybe more bizarre, since he still couldn’t fathom why and had had time to think about it.

The other thing that he’d had too much time to think about was his parents’ reactions. Clark wasn’t all that sure his Dad wouldn’t come hunting for Lex with a shotgun after taking the money. He had to find a way to stress that it had been his idea and Lex was doing them a favor by buying him.

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, thankfully, and he rolled out of bed. He opened the door on Lex and offered a hesitant smile. “Morning.”

Lex smiled back and questioned, “Change your mind? We haven’t signed anything yet.”

Clark shook his head as he replied, “No. I can’t.”

“You can, Clark,” Lex told him seriously. “Your life doesn’t have to belong to either your father or me. You were adopted and I can sever the adoption for you, make it so that you aren’t a Kent at all and won’t be responsible for the farm’s debts. You can live here and go to school, or I’m sure Chloe’s father, or Lana’s aunt, would take you in. You can have a life of your own.”

Clark’s mind reeled with the possibility, but only for about three seconds before he forced himself to prompted, “What about my Mom and Dad?”

“I can’t do anything for them if they won’t accept the loan.”

Which Clark knew. Just like he knew his father would never take the loan. Just like he knew it was only three more days before the State took over and they all wound up at a work camp. Clark exhaled forcefully and said, “I can’t. If this is the only way to save them, then it’s what I need to do.”

Lex nodded as if expecting that and gripped his shoulder as he said, “Which is why I wanted to give you some assurances now. Clark, what I told you last night about you in my bed is absolutely true, but it’s not going to happen until you’re old enough and unless you want it. I threw all that at you last night to scare the hell out of you, to give you the worst case scenario. If we do this, it’ll be a partnership of sorts. I expect to be obeyed when I give an order, but on the whole your life won’t change.”

Clark felt some serious vertigo from the rapid changes and possibilities. He wasn’t sure if he was bitterly disappointed, or extremely relieved, maybe both at the revelation. He swallowed a few times and leaned against the wall.

“I know this is a lot and you are…the bravest person I know to do this for them,” Lex said quietly.

Flushing at the compliment, Clark managed a smile and replied, “Thanks.”

Lex squeezed his shoulder again and said, “Okay. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get something to eat. The lawyers should be here in an hour.”

“Wait, what about, um, you know. Me. What you wanted to know,” Clark asked, wishing he didn’t have to. “You might not want me after you know.”

Lex stared at him for a long moment before answering, “That would never happen, but we’ll talk about it now if you want, how’s that?”

Clark nodded and started to follow him out before he realized he hadn’t put on his shirt. “Oh! Hey, I’ll catch up. I need to put on my shirt.”

“Don’t do it on my account,” Lex teased with a wink before he continued walking.

Shaking his head, Clark grinned and went back in the bedroom to get his shirt and put on socks and sneakers. It would be easier than coming back upstairs later to do it. He jogged downstairs to the kitchen and found Lex chatting easily with the cook. Marissa was in her late-thirties, dark-haired, and cute in a bubbly kind of way; very not the kind of person Clark expected to work for Lex.

“Hey, Clark! Want some pancakes?” Marissa offered. “I can whip some up no problem.”

“No, I um, I don’t think I could handle anything heavy, but thanks,” Clark replied regretfully.

Lex told her, “We’ll eat in the dining room shortly.”

She nodded, smiling as she replied, “Of course, Mr. Luthor.”

“Come on, Clark, let’s talk.”

Somehow, those words gave Clark a sense of dread. He had the brief thought that he should have waited until after Lex had bought him to have this conversation, but just wanted to get it out of the way. It was hanging over his head like some kryptonite sword, ready to drop. He followed Lex out of the kitchen and into the office where Lex sat behind his desk. It seemed awkward to just stand there, so Clark sat in front of the desk.

When Lex motioned for him to speak, Clark wondered where to begin. He finally settled on, “You’ve probably guessed that I’m a lot stronger and faster than everyone else, right?”

Lex’s mouth twisted into a wry grin as he confirmed, “Hitting you with my car and you not dying pretty much clued me in, yes.”

“Right. Well, it wasn’t until last year that I knew there was anything else to it,” Clark told him. “I just, my folks had always just taught me to be careful and pretend to be normal at all costs. They were afraid someone would take me away, but didn’t tell me why, or, not the whole why, until last year.”

Lex prompted neutrally, “What happened last year?”

Clark took a breath and answered, “I became indestructible.”

Lex blinked at him a few times. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, I know how it sounds, honest, but I stuck my entire arm into the wood chipper last year to prove it to my Dad.”

“Okay. Go on.”

Clark wiped nervously damp palms on his thighs before continuing, “After the wood chipper, well, Dad brought me down to the root cellar and…there was a spaceship there. A small ship designed to carry one person, me as a baby, here to Earth. I came in the meteor shower. I think, I think I might have caused it somehow, but I don’t know ‘cause I was a baby.”

Lex stared at him, apparently frozen, for almost a full minute. The seconds ticked by with excruciating slowness for Clark as he waited for some sign that Lex was going to freak out.

“You’re an alien.”

“Yeah.”

“An extra terrestrial being.”

“Yes.”

Lex stared at him for another, longer period and then asked slowly, “Where are you from?”

“I’m not sure, exactly,” Clark answered, still waiting for the freak out. “I know it’s called Krypton, but I can’t read the spaceship’s writing.”

Sitting back in his chair, fingers steepled together, Lex stared down at some fixed point. Clark’s heart started racing in anticipation of being kicked out or worse, a phone call was made to a facility lab and he was never seen again.

Lex stood without warning, startling Clark, and demanded, “You’re an alien?”

Clark nodded silently.

“What else can you do besides go fast and be indestructible?” Lex asked, eyes bright with fervor.

“I have, well, I guess it’s a kind of x-ray vision. I can see through people to their muscles and skeletons. Through walls. But that’s it besides the speed and invulnerability. It’s enough.”

Lex’s gaze sharpened on him at the bitter words. He took a slow breath and then released it, saying, “It’s okay, Clark. I’m sorry about that, how I reacted, but it was…a shock. I thought you’d been altered by the meteor fragments like the others.”

Clark gave him an incredulous look and exclaimed, “It’s okay? Lex, I’m a menace! I killed people with those meteors and ruined who knows how many lives just by coming here!”

Walking over to him, Lex put both hands on Clark’s shoulders and gripped him tight. He stared into Clark’s eyes and stated flatly, “You were a baby, Clark, none of that was your fault. Whoever sent you into space is to blame, not you. And I’ve seen you save lives since coming here, myself included, so you more than do your unnecessary penance.”

Clark bit his lip as he hesitantly asked, “So, you’re not going to kick me out or, or, send me to some lab?”

A strangely compassionate expression crossed Lex’s face as he slid one hand to cup the back of Clark’s head. “No, Clark. Is that what you’ve been afraid of? Why you started lying to me?”

“I wanted to tell you, Lex, I did! But my parents, I couldn’t go against their wishes, you know?” Clark said miserably. “I trusted you, do trust you, but they just can’t see you like I do. And all of this…I’m a freak, so why would you want anything to do with me if I ever told you?”

Lex’s hand tightened on Clark’s shoulder as he said fiercely, “You are not a freak! Clark, you are the most human of people that I’ve known in my life. It doesn’t matter where you came from, you were raised here and you’re a good man. One of the best.”

Clark let out a shaky breath and gave him an equally shaky smile. “You don’t know how good it is to hear you say that.”

Lex pulled Clark in, wrapping his arms around him as he repeated, “It’s okay now, Clark. We’re okay.”

Pressing his face against Lex’s throat, Clark returned the hug and felt his heart slow back down to an acceptable pace. The sick feeling slowly left as well and he eventually pulled back, giving Lex an abashed grin. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to get all emo on you.”

Lex grinned back and said, “Emote at will, Clark. Now. Think you can eat?”

“God yes,” Clark agreed, suddenly starving.

“Let’s hit the dining room, then.”

Clark was a little surprised when Lex took his hand, but didn’t protest. It was…nice…and probably good practice anyhow. Once he was Lex’s indentured, it wasn’t like he’d be able to say no. Not that he really wanted to.

He found pancakes waiting on the table and gave Lex a surprised look.

A faint smile surfaced as Lex explained, “I figured that once you’d confessed, you’d get your appetite back.”

Rueful, Clark sat at the seat next to Lex’s and said, “You were right.”

“I’m always right, Clark, don’t you know that by now?” Lex replied, seemingly serious.

Clark was relieved by the twinkle in his friend’s eyes; it belied the pompous statement. He picked up the silver food cover and set it aside. “How many do you want?”

Lex waved him off. “Fruit salad’s all I need, thanks Clark. Those are all yours.”

Clark eyed the stack of fluffy pancakes hungrily and transferred half to his plate. He grabbed the syrup and doused them before cutting into them with just his fork and digging in. He was about halfway through when he found Lex grinning fondly at him. Swallowing, he asked, “What?”

“Nothing. I just hope you continue growing up and don’t start growing out, if that’s how you eat,” Lex teased.

Chuckling, Clark started in on the rest of his food.

* * * *

Lex watched Clark eat with a grin before going back to his fruit salad and reading the paper. Carroll Fredericks showed up just as they were finishing up. It was good timing since Clark seemed to instantly lose his appetite on seeing the man standing in the doorway with his briefcase. Putting down the paper, Lex stood and walked over to him, shaking the man’s hand and saying, “You have everything?”

“I do, Sir,” Carroll answered. “The money will be transferred to the Kent account on your say so.”

Nodding, Lex held his hand out to Clark, who’d stood and watched them uncertainly. Clark walked over to them, and Lex introduced, “Clark, this is Carroll Fredericks, my best attorney. He found the loophole that will let us do this.”

Clark shook his hand and said, “Thank you. I really appreciate this.”

Carroll looked as though he wasn’t sure how to answer that, but settled on, “You’re welcome.”

Lex motioned them both towards his office and they were seated on the sofa and chair moments later. Keeping a hand on Clark’s thigh, he listened as Carroll went over the specifics so Clark knew exactly what would happen. The man put a recorder on the table and turned it on, which was standard procedure in these cases so the indentured couldn’t claim he or she hadn’t understood what they were doing.

“Once you sign these forms, you become indentured to Lex,” Carroll began. “The sum of the buyout is an even one million dollars. That sum will be paid to your parents’ account on Mr. Luthor’s signature. Once you sign these forms, you will be beholden to Mr. Luthor for the principal, which is the one million dollars, plus interest which is at the current rate of six point seven percent. On top of those are fees to cover your room and board, a clothing allowance, and schooling which will include a college education of Mr. Luthor’s choosing.

“Since you will have no job until after college, if Mr. Luthor allows you to have one at that point, you will not be able to pay him back. Essentially, you will be his property until this loan is repaid which could be never. He can do with you as he sees fit, up to and including bodily harm or death. Do you fully understand this contract that you want to enter into with Mr. Lex Luthor?”

Clark nodded and replied, “I do.”

“You need to state your name and give me a brief summary in your own words,” Carroll said kindly.

Lex made a note to give the man a raise.

Clearing his throat, Clark reprised, “I, Clark Jerome Kent, understand that until I repay Lex Luthor one million dollars, plus interest and fees, I belong to him. He can, um, do anything he wants with me, and to me, even killing me, until the money is repaid. Oh, and the money’s going to my parents’ bank account once we both sign the contract. Is that good?”

Carroll nodded and turned off the recorder. “Okay. All you need to do is sign and date here at the bottom and the transaction is complete.”

Lex signed first and then held the pen out to Clark. It took a few seconds, but Clark accepted the pen and then signed in a rush, dating the line beside it. Squeezing Clark’s thigh, he asked, “You okay?”

Clark let out a shaky breath and said, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”

Lex wasn’t so sure, but let it pass. Giving his friend time to adjust, he looked at Carroll and said, “Send the money to the Kents. We’ll wait for the fireworks here. Call me with any problems.”

Nodding, Carroll confirmed, “I will, Sir. Goodbye, Clark.”

“Bye, Mr. Fredericks,” Clark replied, sounding numb.

While Carroll exited, Lex rubbed Clark’s back and suggested, “Why don’t you take a shower and get changed?”

That seemed to break through Clark’s fog. He frowned as he asked, “Into what? All my clothes are at the house.”

Somewhat abashed, Lex explained, “That’s your room, Clark. I tend to anticipate the worst, so I have clothes bought in your size every few months or so. If you look through the closet, you’ll find clothes of all kind for you.”

Clark gaped at him and then questioned, “What scenario could you have possibly anticipated to buy me clothes?”

“Your parents’ deaths,” Lex answered simply.

Clark’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally shook his head and replied, “You are like the uber-pessimist, has anyone ever told you that?”

Lex half-grinned at him. “They don’t have to. And however you want to decorate the room, just let Joan know. She’ll make it happen.”

“Decorate?” Clark echoed, grinning.

Lex snorted and said, “Yes, smartass. Like if the bed isn’t comfortable, or you want some hay strewn on the floor.”

Clark actually laughed at that, eyes brightening as he stood and retorted, “You’re hilarious, Lex. You should try stand-up sometime.”

Lex watched him go, pleased to have made him laugh. The amusement faded fast, though, and he walked over to his desk, turning on his laptop and signing in. A quick scroll through his various accounts showed the expected losses and he sighed, but put it down to lessons learned; an expensive lesson…never underestimate his father’s insanity.

It was about forty-five minutes later that Clark reappeared, hovering in the doorway uncertainly. Lex looked up from the laptop and smiled at the sight of him, barefoot and hair still damp. While it wasn’t a law that indentureds or slaves had to be barefoot, it was tradition for indoors. The dark, fitted jeans and comfortable gray sweater were very much not of Clark’s usual wardrobe, but suit him very well. He would have to make a note to send his personal shopper a bonus for choosing clothes that were both comfortable and attractive. It wasn’t such a drastic change that Clark would stand out at school.

Well, no more than he already does, Lex mused as he stood. “I see you found everything. Any massive changes needed to the room?”

Clark shook his head and answered, “The bed’s a little too soft, but everything else is great, Lex, really.”

Lex opened his mouth to make a teasing remark about breaking in a new bed just to see Clark blush when there was a serious pounding on the front door. Clark’s eyes went wide and Lex held up a hand, promising, “It’ll be all right, Clark. And let me do all the talking to your parents. Don’t move from here until I say so, no matter what.”

Sober, Clark nodded and stayed put.

Lex left the office and paused in the hall to take a breath and release it slowly. He heard Jonathan Kent’s demanding voice, rough with fury, and Joan’s softer one. The housekeeper wasn’t given hazard pay to deal with an angry father, so Lex strode forward to the door where Martha and Jonathan were arguing with Joan.

“It’s all right, Joan, I’ve got this,” Lex said coolly.

Joan gave the Kents a warning glance before nodding to Lex and saying, “Very well, Mr. Luthor,” as she left.

Jonathan immediately grabbed Lex by the shirt and threw him hard against the nearest wall, snarling, “Where’s our son, you sadistic son of a bitch?! What did you do to him?”

It took a couple of seconds to regain his breath from the impact. Once he did, it was all he could do not to bring the older man to his knees with a few, well-placed defense moves. Lex glared right back at him and replied, “Manhandling me won’t get him back, Mr. Kent. I suggest that you let go of me this instant.”

Jonathan shoved him again, a momentary twinge against Lex’s chest, but let go and stepped back.

Martha took that moment to plead, “He’s just a boy, Lex, he doesn’t know what he’s doing!”

“Clark is legally an adult. He can be held responsible for your debts as well as make his own decisions,” Lex replied, cutting.

Martha flinched, one hand reaching out to grip her husband’s sleeve.

Lex took a breath and held up his hands. “Let’s stop for a moment. I understand that you’re upset, but the fact of the matter is that it’s done.”

“What’s. Done.” Jonathan gritted out, though he had to know.

Lex almost made them wait for it, just to spite their small-mindedness, but answered, “Clark indentured himself to me for the sum of your debts. You will use that money to pay off the farm and any outstanding notes on your property or the sum reverts to me and Clark remains my indentured.”

Jonathan took a step towards him, but Martha kept hold of him as she asked, “Please undo this, Lex. I know you’re not a bad man, like Lionel, and he’s our son. Please give him back.”

Technically, Lex had the power to reverse or forgive Clark’s indentured status, but he wouldn’t. Mostly because it would invalidate Clark’s very powerful gesture, but also to satisfy the selfish part of him that wanted the younger man for himself. Shaking his head, Lex repeated, “It’s done. I will not rescind Clark’s bravery to salvage your pride. If you do not use the money to pay off the debts, then you won’t go to a work camp, I’ll make sure that you both get sold to LuthorCorp and let my father deal with you.”

Jonathan shouted, “You can’t do that!”

Lex met his gaze and replied sharply, “Try me. All of this could have been avoided if you’d only taken the loan I offered the other day, but you wouldn’t. So Clark took matters into his own hands and this is the result. Live with it and know that your pride cost you your son, not me. I offered to sever the adoption, you know, so that Clark wouldn’t get snared in your stupidity, but he refused. His only thoughts were of you. It’s too bad that you couldn’t manage the same.”

The fist that sent Lex flying came with no warning. One minute he was upright and the next he was flat on his back, pain ringing through his head from the punch. He heard the door slam with finality and thought in dark amusement, That went well.

“Mr. Luthor! Are you all right, Sir?” Joan exclaimed, kneeling beside him.

Gingerly touching his jaw, Lex pushed upright and answered, “Fine, Joan, thank you.”

He walked to the door and opened it to see Martha and Jonathan arguing down by their truck. They were loud enough to hear, but far enough away not to be able to make out the words.

“Sir, you should put some ice on that before it bruises worse,” Joan said.

Lex nodded and closed the door. He might’ve been a little crueler than needed at the end there, but the fact that they would rather send Clark to a work camp than accept his help just pissed him off. All in all, a punch to the face was both not the worst that could’ve happened and practically expected.

Following Joan into the kitchen, he accepted the frozen gelpack and pressed it to the side of his jaw with a gasp of relief. He went from there back to his study where he found Clark sitting on the sofa still, but with his knees to his chest and his chin on his arms over his knees. He jumped to his feet and exclaimed, “Lex! Are you all right?”

Lex let Clark guide him to the sofa and sat down as he answered, “I’m fine, Clark. All things considered, your father showed remarkable restraint.”

“I um, heard you guys,” Clark admitted. “You were pretty loud. Well, my dad was, and I ah, I was standing by the door.”

Lex offered an encouraging smile and told him, “I wouldn’t really send them to my father, Clark. I just had to make sure that they used the money.”

Clark sighed. “I know.”

Gripping Clark’s shoulder with his free hand, Lex promised, “They’ll come around. Once your father’s cooled off and your mother manages to talk him into what he needs to do anyhow, they’ll come over and you can all do that group hug thing you always do.”

Clark offered a faint smile, but his gaze looked haunted to Lex before it slipped away.

Lex kept his hand on Clark’s back in as much of a comforting gesture as he could. No matter what he said, he knew that Clark would blame himself for the fallout. All he could do was give as much support as possible and help him move on.