Lois watched the two men as though she'd never seen them before, observing them as she would any other subject in a neutral setting.

Lex Luthor, early thirties, businessman, dressed to the nines for even a semi-formal occasion and yet not looking over-dressed. It killed her that he could accomplish that every single time, too. Always fitting in, always having just the right word for the person he was speaking with. Lois leaned against the column thoughtfully and wondered when his political ambitions would make themselves known to the world. She could almost smell it coming on the wind.

Clark Kent, late twenties, reporter, dressed well, but awkwardly, as though the suit hadn't been tailored just for him, which Lois knew perfectly well that it had been. Clark always did this scrunching down thing that rumpled even the nicest and most well-made of suits inside five minutes flat. Personally, she'd have thought that Lex would have given up on dressing Clark outside his comfort level: flannel and jeans and workboots or sneakers. And since Clark looked fucking hot just like that, she'd probably have let him do it no matter where.

They fit together, even though it didn't seem possible that they could. Clark was always hovering near Lex, if not directly touching him in some small fashion. Nothing obvious, or even noticeable, unless you were looking for it: a light caress to the back of the neck, a guiding hand on the small of Lex's back. She'd seen them both a lot more physical than that, but it seemed more intimate now, as if they'd been through hell together and were as close as two people could be.

The women, now, they were new. New and seriously disturbing in a way that Lois couldn't even begin to describe. And she'd tried, too. Considered it a slight to her journalistic skills that they were there and she couldn't adequately find the words for them. A matched pair, a set, despite one being white and the other black. They were extremely discreet and Lois knew that no one had noticed the blond woman shadowing Clark at the Planet, aside from Perry and herself.

He'd called Lois into his office the first day Mercy had shown up and she'd explained that Lex had ordered protection for Clark while Lucas was on the loose. Not that Clark had explained it to her, he'd just grimaced and answered, "Lex." Perry had looked just as creeped out as Lois had felt, still felt, but nodded his acceptance, seeing the wisdom of the move.

None of them would risk Clark, after all.

She half-smiled, wistful, as she watched Clark and Lex working the fundraiser. Not that Clark was working, but he was aiding and abetting, that was for sure. The men related better to Clark than they ever could to Lex; probably because of his working-class background. They felt like they could either look down on him despite his now privileged status, or view him as an equal because of where Clark came from. Lex...well...Lex was in a class by himself and the men knew it, even if the women didn't care.

Clark Kent. Ace reporter. Public friend and professional contact of Superman. Lover of Lex Luthor. Pulitzer Prize winner at twenty-five. Her best friend. The only man that she loved with all her heart. She wished, briefly, that he trusted her enough to tell her that he was Superman.

* * * *

"Lois looks bored," Lex murmured into Clark's ear.

Clark glanced at his friend and saw that Lex was only half right. Sighing, he replied, "She's depressed, not just bored."

"Oh God. She's not pms'ing, is she?"

Laughing softly, Clark nudged Lex with his elbow and scolded, "Be nice."

"I am. Small cities could be leveled under these circumstances."

With a head shake, Clark replied, "I'm going to make sure that she doesn't kill anyone."

Lex tugged lightly on Clark's shirt and whispered in his ear, "Don't do that, I'm getting bored too, you know."

Snorting, Clark kissed his cheek and pulled free, ignoring Mercy as she made a parallel move to follow him beside Lois. Leaning against the column, Clark asked, "What's wrong?"

Lois smiled brightly. "Nothing."

"Yeah right, tell that to someone who doesn't know you," Clark retorted. "What's going on?"

Grinning faintly, Lois countered, "I could ask you that."

"What?"

"What happened to you last week?"

Clark shifted uncomfortably and answered, "I told you. I was sick."

"Clark. I've never seen you sick. That was no reason for Lex to bar me access to the penthouse to go over some story problems," Lois pointed out.

Before he could think of a suitable reply, a familiar voice greeted from behind, "Clark Kent. It's so good to see you again."

Stiffening, Clark turned to face Lionel and replied, "Lionel. What are you doing here?"

"It is a charity event," Lionel chided.

"Seen your other heir recently, Luthor?" Lois asked with a smirk.

Lionel ignored her, instead asking Clark, "I was hoping we could talk? Your father was...rather insistent about my not coming into the penthouse last week and Lex even more so."

Lionel had called and talked to Lex? Keeping a firm lid on his temper, Clark said, "I have nothing to say to you."

Looking interested, Lionel replied, "Is that so? Mmm. That's not at all the way you were talking just a few short days ago. Ms. Lane, he had some very unflattering things to say about you in particular."

"What do you want, Dad?"

Clark had been so focused on keeping his temper and not ripping Lionel's tongue from his mouth that he nearly jumped at Lex's unexpected arrival. The hand placed firmly on Clark's hip was comforting and restraining all at once, as though Lex had guessed what he'd been thinking. Which, given Lex, was entirely possible.

Lionel's sharp gaze switched to his son as he drawled, "Lex, my boy, it's so good to see you as well. I was just telling Clark here that we didn't get to talk very long the other day."

"Lois, would you excuse us?" Lex asked smoothly.

She didn't even hesitate; just nodded and left the three most powerful men of the city alone.

Lex shifted closer to Clark, protective, as he demanded softly, "What's this about?"

"There were a limited number of places that I brought Clark in that little tour, son. There were very few things that he came in contact with," Lionel murmured. "I'm sure that it won't take long to narrow down what, exactly, caused such a radical shift in behavior. And once I find out what, I'll be sure and send a nice big parcel of it to the penthouse. As a gift."

With that, Lionel gave them both a shark's smile and left.

Clark didn't realize that he was shaking until Lex put an arm around his waist and pulled him close whispering, "We'll be fine, Clark, I swear."

Nearly desperate, Clark looked down into Lex's eyes and exclaimed, just managing to keep his voice low, "I can't go through that again, Lex, I can't! It's not safe for you, for the world!"

Cupping Clark's face between both hands, Lex soothed, "It's not going to happen, Clark, you're going to be safe if I have to steal and destroy every bit of it personally."

Though he wanted to believe Lex, Clark couldn't get over the fact that it wouldn't take Lionel long to figure things out. And when that happened...

"Clark, breathe, don't start hyperventilating," Lex ordered firmly, his grip tightening. "Just look and focus on me, all right? Everything is going to be fine. You have to trust me. Do you trust me?"

Nodding jerkily, Clark gasped, "Yes."

"Then let me work this out."

Clark was finally able to draw a complete breath just as Lois returned. With a neutral expression, she informed them, "People have noticed, Lex. Get him out of here, now."

With a nod, Lex released Clark only long enough to slide an arm back around Clark's waist. "Please give out regrets to Mr. Hampton?"

Lois smiled. "I live to give regrets to Mr. Hampton."

Snorting, Lex commented, "I bet you do."

"I'll call you tomorrow, Kent," Lois promised.

"Sure. Lois, I'm sorry..."

She waved away the apology with an airy look before moving away.

"Come on, farmboy, let's get you home before you turn into a pumpkin."

Not even able to summon a fake smile, Clark just nodded and followed Lex's lead towards the exit. He knew he shouldn't be this upset, but for whatever reason, his invulnerability hadn't returned and being around Lionel even at full strength was enough to give him a serious case of the creeps and...

"Breathe."

Right. Breathing. Clark drew in a shaky breath as they left the room, for the very first time grateful for Mercy and Hope. Having actually watched them in a no-holds-barred match, at their insistence, Clark knew exactly what they could do. He knew, for instance, that at his full strength and invulnerability, it might actually be a toss-up as to who would come out the winner if they had to fight.

Mercy was already at the car, waiting beside it, and Hope moved easily behind them. They were safe from both sides. Clark had always understood the fear that came with being mortal, had experienced it more than once through the loss of his powers, but now seemed different. There was a weight on his chest and it was hard to...

"Breathe, Clark!"

Then they were in the car and the Clark was settled in the back seat, Lex directly beside him, Hope in the front with the driver and Mercy facing them from the other side of the limo. Lex's arm went around Clark's shoulder and he curled into his lover, wanting to feel as much as him as possible.

"Clark, what's going on here? This isn't like you," Lex murmured, fingers twining with Clark's and kissing Clark's temple.

Closing his eyes, Clark hesitated then said, "You don't know what I was going to do to you, Lex. You can't know. Pain and blood and fear and humiliation. I wanted to make you beg, to crawl with terror and adulation both. I can't risk losing myself to that and to...to... I won't risk you again. I won't. I'll leave first."

Lex completely froze at his words, then shivered lightly and whispered, "It's not going to happen, Clark, I swear. I'm never letting you go, never, do you understand me? And we're going to beat my father at his own game."

"You have a plan," Clark said after a moment. He knew that determined tone and it usually preceded something devious and devastating for whatever, or whoever, was involved. Normally that would disturb Clark, but right now, it was exactly what he needed to hear.

Nodding, Lex kissed his temple and repeated, "I have a plan. Close your eyes, Clark, get some rest."

Clark frowned. "It's only a few minutes to the penthouse."

"We're going to Gotham."

* * * *

"God damn it, Bruce, would you just shut up and listen to me for a change?" Dick shouted.

Bruce glared at the younger man and snapped coldly, "If you made sense, or had something to contribute, I might."

"You son of a bitch."

"Look who's talking."

"Excuse me, sirs."

Bruce and Dick both looked to Alfred, who stood unperturbed in the doorway.

Forcibly controlling his temper, Bruce took a breath and said, "Yes, Alfred, what is it?"

"Mr. Luthor and Mr. Kent have arrived."

Oh crap. Just what he needed. Pointing a finger at Dick, Bruce ordered, "Don't you even think about going out on patrol without me tonight."

Dick sneered. "Or what? You'll ground me?"

Before Bruce could say either way, Dick stalked out of the room. His jaw clenched and unclenched a few times before he could grit out, "Please tell me I was never that bad, Alfred."

There was a distinct twinkle in the eyes opposite him as Alfred replied, "I claim the Fifth Amendment, Master Bruce."

Arching an eyebrow at his old friend, Bruce pointed out, "You're British."

"And you have guests," Alfred reminded, amusement hovering just beneath the words. "I shall have the guest bedrooms made up."

"Only one, Alfred," Bruce informed him.

This time, Alfred arched an eyebrow at him. "I tend to doubt that the ladies will be sharing a room with Mr. Luthor and Mr. Kent."

Ladies? What the hell? Confused now, Bruce nodded and headed for the study where he knew Alfred would have put his friends. Opening the door, Bruce entered and his back immediately stiffened upon taking a quick look around. The two women were obvious and immediate threats and he suddenly wished that Dick was there to back him up. Clark was hunched in on himself in a way that Bruce hadn't seen since the hospital and Lex was practically humming with unshed violence.

Bruce could feel a migraine threatening.

Lex's eyes locked to his and Bruce greeted, "Lex?"

Half-smiling, Lex replied, "Bruce. Sorry to drop in at such a bad moment."

"Phones do a lot to help with the communication thing," Bruce agreed, crossing to meet his friend.

Grimacing now, Lex nodded almost imperceptibly towards Clark and said, "It was an emergency."

With a frown, Bruce answered, "So I see. Where's Olsham?"

"Replaced," Lex explained. "Hope and Mercy, his replacements."

There was something very creepy about the women that put Bruce in the mind of automatons, aside from the homicidal glitter in their eyes. He took in their considerable fighting capabilities then dismissed them; at least temporarily. Lex wouldn't have hired them if they weren't loyal and trustworthy. "What can I do for you?"

Instead of answering, Lex turned to Clark and asked, "Did you want to get some sleep, Clark?"

Clark blinked sleepily a few times, then nodded and got to his feet. "Yeah, good idea."

Cupping Clark's face one-handed for a moment, Lex stared into his lover's eyes as if silently willing him to believe something. Finally, he said, "I'll be up in a bit."

"I'll probably be asleep," Clark answered wryly. "Night, Lex."

Lex tugged him down for a soft, slow kiss. "Good night, Clark. I love you."

At that, Clark smiled, visibly melting at the gentle declaration. "Love you, Lex."

Bruce felt completely invisible in the face of the exchange and kept silent.

Clark paused on his way by and flashed a grin at Bruce, saying, "Thanks for letting us crash, Bruce. I appreciate it."

It was impossible not to respond to that easy grin with one of his own. Bruce gripped Clark's shoulder and said, "Anytime, Clark, and you know it. Sleep well."

"Thanks. Good night."

Bruce watched him go, followed by the blond woman, then turned to Lex. "So. What's going on?"

* * * *

Lex wasn't fooled by the easy manner Bruce evinced while walking to the desk to pour out two glasses of brandy. The other man was on high alert and it didn't just have to due with their untimely arrival. He'd heard the shouting voices as Alfred had shown them to the study and wondered, now, what problems seemed to be driving between Batman and the Boy-Wonder.

Taking a seat on the leather sofa, Lex accepted the drink and breathed in the sharp, heady fragrance before sipping at the expensive liquid. "Very nice."

Smirking, Bruce sat opposite him and replied, "It must be, for you to compliment it."

They sat silently for a moment, then Lex said, "What do you think about Superman?"

Bruce appeared surprised by the apparent non-sequitur, but gave the question some thought before answering, "I don't trust him."

"Why not? Because he's a vigilante?"

Snorting, Bruce answered, "Very funny."

"I thought so," Lex agreed with a smirk.

"No, it's not because of what he does that makes me not trust him," Bruce continued.

"Then what?"

"I have no idea who he is. None of us do."

By that, Lex knew Bruce was referring to the League. "I thought none of you knew who each other were."

Shrugging mildly, Bruce answered, "But we know each other. Superman's never even attempted to make contact with anyone. He has his own agenda and thinks that he owns Metropolis. I'm surprised your not more in arms about him. You've always been very possessive about that city and Superman's pretty much taken it over."

Lex stared into the glass for a few moments, wondering how to do this without completely alienating his long-time friend.

"You know who he is."

Well. That was easy. Snorting to himself, Lex glanced at Bruce through lowered lashes and replied, "And if I do? Are you going to get self-righteous and pissy?"

Eyes rolling, Bruce pointed out, "You couldn't blame me if I do! Do you know how long the League's been trying to find out who he is? And now to find out he's working for you?"

Sharply, Lex snapped, "Superman does not fucking work for me!"

Bruce blinked in surprise, then leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "What's going on here, Lex? I can tell that you need something, and it has to do with Superman. Has he gone rogue?"

Jaw flexing, Lex dropped his gaze from Bruce's and said, "He did. Temporarily. But it's been fixed."

From the complete silence, Lex knew that Bruce was about to explode. He took another drink of the liquid fire and continued, "It's Clark."

"What's Clark?"

Lex laughed and just stared at Bruce until understanding dawned across the other man's face and the glass actually dropped from Bruce's hand.

"Fuck! Clark is Superman?" Bruce exclaimed, jumping to his feet. Agitated, though barely showing it, he paced over to the window and stared out into the black night.

"If it helps, I knew Clark for about six years and still had to be told the truth," Lex offered.

Snorting, Bruce ran a hand through his dark hair and looked back at him, leaning against the window. "It doesn't, but thanks for the thought. Jesus, Lex. Why are you telling me this now? What's happened? You said he went rogue? How? And how did you change him back?"

Lex tossed back the remainder of the brandy, relishing the burn before answering judiciously, "Clark's home planet was destroyed and his birth parents sent him here to be safe."

"The meteor shower?"

"The meteor shower," Lex confirmed. "After various twists and turns, which you do not need to know about, Clark is fulfilling his destiny, though not in the manner his birth-parents anticipated. In any case, with his ship came meteorites that can change him. We call it red Kryptonite. It releases his inhibitions and gives all the human morals that the Kents raised him with a permanent vacation."

Bruce paled.

Lex nodded. "It was scary."

"Are you all right?"

"Recovering."

"Fuck."

"Suffice to say, I do not want a repeat episode of what just happened."

Bruce nodded in agreement. "None of us do."

"My father has a store of the red meteorite. That's how Clark was, well, infected for lack of a better word. He was touring the LuthorCorp facility in Metropolis under cover of a story and was exposed to it," Lex explained.

Giving Lex a hard look, Bruce's arms crossed over his chest. "Your father has the one thing that can turn Superman into an image of himself?"

Lex's stomach dropped at the coldly calculating look in his friend's eyes. This wasn't just Bruce Wayne to whom he was talking, after all, this was also Batman. Forcing himself to remain relaxed and not grab Clark and run, Lex replied calmly, "Yes. Which is why I want you to go in and steal it from him. To get every last bit of that fucking rock and destroy it so this never happens again."

"We'll do it."

Both men jumped a bit at Dick's declaration. Lex hadn't heard the younger man arrive and wondered how much of the story had been overheard. Hopefully all of it, because he didn't really feel like going through it again.

"We'll think about it," Bruce corrected.

Dick smirked. "What's to think about? Do you really want Lionel Luthor holding onto something that can bring out an evil Superman? I know I don't."

Lex watched with interest as Bruce silently, but obviously, counted to ten in an attempt not to strangle his ward.

"That's not the point. We can't just rush into something like this because..."

"So we don't rush. We'll get the plans, which I'm sure Lex has, and..."

"It's putting everyone in jeopardy by acting before thinking..."

"You think things to fucking death."

"Better than not thinking at all!"

"Right. Well, when you grow a pair, give me a call. I'm going to bed."

Lex studiously kept a neutral face as Dick strode out of the study and Bruce almost visibly twitched in fury. He saw the powerful fists clench and unclench in an attempt not to wreak havoc on the study and stayed quiet.

"I'm going to kill him before he reaches twenty-five. I swear to God!" Bruce snapped, picking up the glass that he'd dropped earlier and moving to refill it. "Do you know what he did?"

"No."

"There's this new motorcycle gang in town and they've been tearing up the lower city for a few weeks now. Problem is, they vanish before I can get to wherever they're causing trouble," Bruce explained, pausing to down half the glass of alcohol. "That little...Dick decided to go out on his own and try to take care of things on his own. He nearly got himself killed! If I hadn't shown up at just the right time, he would've been driven off the road and splattered into roadkill by a semi."

Having had his own recent encounter with a semi, Lex shuddered in sympathy. "He's young."

"He's going to get himself killed!" Bruce exclaimed.

Arching an eyebrow at his friend, Lex observed, "So, Bruce, what's going on here?"

* * * *

Bruce wasn't deceived by the lazy sprawl Lex presented on the sofa. Despite the bedroom eyes, he knew that Lex was putting two and two together and somehow getting a scarily accurate logarithm as an answer. Sometimes he really hated scientists. "Nothing is going on aside from the fact that Dick thinks he's as invulnerable as Superman and he isn't."

"Mhmm."

He also hated that knowing tone. "Don't even start, Lex."

"Start what?" Lex asked innocently.

Snorting, Bruce said, "I'll need all the security details and building plans to start planning this heist. Do you know where the meteors are being kept?"

"No, that's the problem. The effects of the rock has wiped Clark's memory of first being infected. He remembers most of the tour, but it's hazy," Lex replied with a tired sigh.

"Well look," Bruce began. "We aren't going to accomplish anything else tonight, so why don't you get some sleep."

"You heading out?"

Bruce shook his head. "No. I've got other things I need to work on."

Getting to his feet, Lex set the glass on the coffee table and said, "See you in the morning, then. And Bruce?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Half-smiling, Bruce closed the distance and pulled Lex into his arms, brushing a kiss against the side of his friend's throat. "I'll never forget, Lex, and you know this is your home for as long as you need it. You and Clark both."

Lex pulled back a bit and smiled at him with, "Still, it's not often that I ask you to commit a felony. That stretches the boundary of most normal friendships."

This time Bruce grinned outright and stated, "Who said anything about this being a normal friendship?"

Chuckling softly, Lex replied, "Very true. All right. I'll see you in the morning. Try and get at least a couple of hours sleep."

"You said it yourself. Sleep's overrated." Bruce pointed out.

Lex's lips quirked and he said, "Used to say it, Bruce, used to."

A brief flash of bitterness sliced through Bruce and he shrugged. "Not all of us are as lucky as you, Lex."

"I know," Lex agreed. "Good night, Bruce."

Bruce squeezed Lex's arm and replied, "Night, Lex."

He watched his friend go, followed by the black woman, then turned back to the window. Nothing was visible outside, the stars and moon blocked by a thick cloud cover, but he stared anyhow. Important things to do. Right.

Like trying to think of a way to convince Dick that life wasn't something to be thrown away because you missed your family.

* * * *

Lex opened the door softly and found that Clark was, indeed, already asleep. The lights in the large buestroom were out, so Lex waited a moment for his eyes to adjust before heading for the dresser, knowing that Alfred would have already unpacked them. Lex was sure that it said something that he always kept a bag of clothing for them each in the trunk of their cars, but he didn't really want to know what.

He tugged out a t-shirt by feel and pulled it on before joining Clark in the massive bed. Lex's furnishings at the castle had nothing on the ones at Bruce's mansion. His friend's family probably hadn't updated the furniture in a hundred years or longer.

Settling in behind Clark, Lex sighed deeply and slipped his leg between Clark's, nuzzling his neck and getting comfortable. Or, he was until Clark pulled away, hunching a shoulder against him. Nonplussed, Lex asked, "Clark? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just, don't feel like it."

Clark didn't feel like cuddling? Right. Nothing wrong with that. Not.

Leaning up on his elbow, Lex said, "Tell me what's wrong."

With a shrug, Clark answered, "Nothing. Just...I didn't know that you and Bruce were that close."

For a second, Lex didn't completely get what Clark meant. Then he realized that Clark had, of course, listened in on the discussion. Which, actually, hadn't been that revealing, but the kiss Bruce had given him probably had. Sighing, Lex placed his hand on Clark's arm and stated, "We're just friends, Clark. That's all we've ever been."

"Right. Because friends kiss each other all the time."

Oh yeah. That was definitely jealousy casting its sullen joys through Clark's voice. Lex took into account that Clark still wasn't back to normal, had had the shittiest of nights and was just a bit off-balance from all of the above. Strangely, the jealousy sent something like satisfaction through Lex and his hand slid over Clark's arm to his lover's chest.

This was actually the first time that he'd seen this side of Clark and it was probably really wrong of him to enjoy it, let alone tease Clark about it, but... "So, Clark, do you think Bruce still finds me hot after all these years?"

There was a second where nothing happened, then Lex found himself flat on his back with Clark over him, hands gripping Lex's arms and pinning him to the bed.

"Don't you even think about it, Lex," Clark growled.

Well. This was...new...and really arousing. And they hadn't had sex without extreme emotional circumstances in way the fuck too long. Licking at his lips, Lex challenged, "Or you'll do what, exactly?"

Clark siezed his lips, his tongue thrusting inside Lex's mouth as it opened in surprise. Heat slammed through Lex as Clark's grip tightened to just this-side of pain and hips ground against his own. He hardened almost immediately and moaned into the posession. That was the only word for it, too, as Clark devoured his mouth like he owned it, which he really, really did and oh fuck this was good.

The t-shirt was gone in seconds, as were his boxers, and then Lex was flipped onto his stomach while Clark licked and sucked his way down Lex's back. Even knowing what was coming didn't stop the groan of need when Clark's tongue lightly licked over his hole. God, it had been too long since he'd felt this intensity, this completeness from Clark, like he was the only thing in his lover's world.

Hands held him open and down while Clark took his time licking and thrusting his tongue into Lex. "Clark, Clark please..."

"Please what, Lex?" Clark demanded harshly, before biting Lex's ass sharply.

Lex hissed in surprised lust and tried to thrust back, but couldn't. Clark might not be back to full strength, but he was pretty damn close to it. Moaning as the wet, limber tongue pushed deep inside, Lex tried to remember what he'd been going to ask, but couldn't. "Oh God, Clark, so good, yes, please more, so good!"

But then Clark's mouth was gone and Lex felt the hard cock at his hole and moaned agreement. It pushed in slowly and there was a burn as the flesh pushed aside his internal muscles, but a burn that Lex relished. Pre-come offered scant lube as Clark moved until they were flush together, covering Lex with his entire body. Panting, Lex's head hung limply as the sensations of being with Clark again ran through him, weakening him as sex never had with anyone else.

A gentle, strong hand rubbed his chest, reaching between Lex and the mattress to caress him, lingering on his nipple before sliding down to grip Lex's cock. He was already so close, just from this, and Lex gasped, "Love you, Clark, so much, so much forever!"

Clark's mouth pressed against Lex's shoulder blade before he echoed, "Only yours, Lex, forever yours."

Then Clark started moving and Lex lost his mind. Every rub of the hard shaft inside nicked his prostate, sending flashes of heat and need through him. He couldn't get enough breath, and his mouth felt dry as a desert from the panting, but those things didn't even register as Clark's cock filled him over and over, the motion getting harder and harder. The bed was shaking as Clark thrust into him, and Lex shouted with the need for more, pushing up on his hands and shoving back against Clark.

Clark shifted, rising up with Lex, one hand holding Lex's hip as he drove inside, humping into the willing body to get as deep as he could go. Lex could feel himself splitting open with every thrust, felt like Clark had never been so far inside him and choked on his own breath as orgasm stopped everything, plummeting him into blackness.

* * * *

Fuck.

He loved it when Clark lost control like that. Groaning, feeling the burn in his ass, Lex shifted slowly back into awareness and felt the hard cock still in his ass and smiled broadly. Clark's hips moved a little, undulating enough to provoke a gasp of pained pleasure. The throbbing in his throat told him that Clark had broken through his skin again and the smile broadened into a wicked grin.

Clark licked at the wound on his neck then sucked lightly on it and murmured, "Fucking mine, Lex, don't forget it."

Moaning as Clark began thursting in earnest again, Lex twined their fingers together, his head falling back against Clark's shoulder as sensation overwhelmed him.

"Are you happy, Lex?" Clark murmured into his ear. "Happy that we've taken the first step?"

The fucking continued, gentle and consuming, as Clark murmured about going on to the next part of their plans. Of taking over the rest of the United States. Of the generals who were sick of the liberal politics and media, the military who wanted a strong leader. Of Lex being the only one who could take control and keep the bloodshed from getting out of hand.

He spiraled slowly but surely towards another orgasm, driven there both by Clark's body and his words. By the love and trust in his voice, by the arms that held him and the mouth that kissed his shoulder and then covered Lex's lips. Gasping into Clark's mouth as he spilled into Clark's hands, the world slipped away for the second time that night, accompanied by the images in his mind of the start to the second war between the states.

* * * *

Gasping awake, Lex felt the stickiness on his cock that told him he'd come from the dream, as well as the wet heat inside that said he'd brought Clark over the edge with him. He breathed more slowly, trying to get control of his body, but his heart refused to obey, racing out of control as fear slithered through him. Were these more than dreams, visions of the future maybe? They were so real, so complete, that it felt as if Lex lived in that time and place.

That he and Clark were beginning to rule the world.

Lex shuddered and Clark murmured a sleepy protest, his arms tightening around Lex without waking. God, he was going to be really fucking sore in the morning. Clark was still lodged deep inside him, filling him as no one ever had before. Closing his eyes, Lex concentrated on the feeling of being surrounded by Clark and slowly, his heart and breathing returned to normal. It was a long time before he relaxed enough to drift into sleep.

* * * *

The morning sun woke Clark and he smiled in lazy satisfaction, remembering the incredible lovemaking he'd shared the night before with Lex. He'd been a dork about how it had started, and what the hell had he been thinking to be jealous of Bruce? But God, it had been forever since they'd been together for just mutual pleasure. Sighing deeply in contentment, Clark was about to move when he glanced down to where he and Lex were still joined and found dried blood.

It wouldn't have been noticeable to anyone without supervision, but to Clark, it was a glaring stain that preceded a massive dose of fear that he'd hurt Lex. Then he looked the rest of his lover over and swallowed a gasp of shock. There were teeth marks in Lex's throat and bruises on the other man's hips where Clark had held him in place and his hips had slammed repeatedly into Lex.

Afraid to move now, Clark just held Lex until the other man stirred in his arms. He'd been so rough, so hard on Lex, and now he was scared shitless that if he pulled out, it would be like unplugging something, as gross as that thought was. What the hell had he been thinking? He hadn't been thinking, that was the problem. He'd heard the obvious affection in Bruce's voice, and that damn kiss, and the only thing that had mattered was to mark Lex as his so there was no mistake.

Clark's gaze fell on the bloodied bite mark where Lex's throat curved into a shoulder, and shivered. He was always so careful not to hurt Lex, afraid of giving into those voices... Only it hadn't been those voices driving him to possess Lex last night. It had been his own insecurities and need, which was doubly damning.

Lex groaned as he shifted, then froze. "Ow. Fuck."

Clark couldn't help the anxiety from his voice as he asked, "Lex?"

Lex's hand gripped Clark's and a smile entered his voice as he replied, "Morning, lover. Any particular reason we're still joined at the hips, literally? Not that I'm really complaining."

"Um...I'm scared to move," Clark admitted.

Lex's head craned around, surprise etched onto his face as he repeated, "Scared?"

Nodding, Clark exclaimed, "God, Lex, I was so rough! I, I bit you! And I'm afraid to, there's blood, Lex, blood on me. I can see it."

"That explains why my throat hurts," Lex observed thoughtfully. He hesitated, then said, "Pull out, Clark."

"But, but what if..."

Gentle, Lex interrupted, "We won't know until you pull out. Just go easy, okay?"

Swallowing convulsively, Clark nodded and slowly shifted his hips back from Lex, his traitor body actually protesting leaving its comfy haven. Lex inhaled sharply and Clark stopped. "Are you okay?"

In a strangled voice, Lex answered, "Yeah, keep going."

Actively afraid now, Clark continued pulling out, breathing a sigh of relief when he was all the way out. Lex turned onto his stomach, face into the pillow, which muffled the shout he let loose. Clark's gut tightened with fear and he moved into a sitting position asking, "Lex? Lex please, tell me you're okay."

There were several seconds where Lex only breathed heavily into the pillow, fists clenched into the sheets. Then Lex breathed deeply and slowly released it, turning his head to look at Clark, half-grinning. "I think it's going to be a while before we do that again."

Still worried, Clark asked, "How bad? Should I have Bruce get a doctor?"

Lex shook his head. "I'll be fine, if avoiding hard surfaces for a couple of days."

"Lex, don't joke about this," Clark pleaded.

Reaching out, Lex took Clark's hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the palm briefly. "I'll be fine, Clark, really. I do, however, want you to start a hot bath and ask Alfred for a mild pain reliever. And then I need my phone."

"Phone?"

"Yes. I have a few calls to me."

"Lex, you should rest," Clark protested.

Smiling, Lex asked slowly, "Clark, did you enjoy last night? Because I sure as hell did. I felt...so connected to you and would do it again in a heartbeat. Faster, if at all possible. You were...it was incredible. So stop feeling guilty and just do as I ask, okay?"

Clark hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Lex exclaimed, exasperated. "I'm not going to break, Clark. I promise."

Sitting up, Clark half-smiled and replied, "Okay, okay! And, um, I did. Enjoy last night I mean. Actually, I came so hard I blacked out."

Chuckling softly, Lex agreed, "So did I."

Cupping Lex's face, Clark asked, "Are you really all right?"

"I am," Lex promised. "Use your vision if you want to check."

Surprised, because Lex hated it when Clark did that, Clark didn't wait to be asked twice. He looked down at Lex's ass and refocused his eyes. There were a few tears, one deep but the other two tiny. Lex's ability to heal fast had already scarred the two smaller ones over, and was working on the third. Breathing a sigh of relief, Clark blinked, his vision reverting to normal, and said, "You'll be okay."

"I told you so."

Clark snorted and pointed out, "That's not an attractive quality, you know."

"Just start the bath, farmboy."

* * * *

Dick knocked hesitantly on the bedroom door, but there was no answer. He waited and knocked again, but it remained closed. Putting his hand on the doorknob got him a hand clenching his shoulder painfully and spun around to face the braided black woman. Feeling uncommonly like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Dick straghtened defensively and shook her off.

"Can I help you, sir?"

"I was just going to talk to Lex," Dick answered.

"Mr. Luthor is not up for visitors right now."

Shrugging, Dick countered, "I'm not a visitor, I'm a friend. He'll want to see me."

"I'm sorry, sir, I can't let you in to see him."

"This is my house!"

"Technically it's Mr. Wayne's house," Hope replied easily.

His jaw tightened and Dick was about to snarl an answer at her when Clark's voice interrupted with, "Hope, it's all right. Dick can come in."

The woman smirked at Dick a little, but stood back and allowed him into the room. He smiled at Clark and entered the bedroom. "How's it going?"

Clark shrugged, an embarrassed look and a flush coming over his face as he replied, "Fine. Um, Lex is good just, well, sore."

Grinning outright, Dick asked, "Wear him out, did you?"

"I heard that."

Dick's grin broadened at Lex's irritated statement and turned towards the bathroom, striding towards it. He walked through the open door and leaned against it. "Hey, at least the two of you are getting some. I haven't even been on a date in months."

"Is that what you call it?" Lex questioned dryly. "I hadn't realized that the term 'date' was so loosely defined these days."

Chuckling, not at all offended, Dick asked, "So how long are you out of commission?"

Plainly annoyed, Lex snapped, "I am not out of condition, I am taking a bath for God's sake. I'll be down shortly for lunch."

Lex was the only one Dick knew who could be naked in a bathtub and still look as comfortable as if he were fully dressed and walking around his own home.

"Just make sure and have a cushioned seat ready."

Lex's glare shifted to Clark at the mildly amused and smug response.

Dick stifled a laugh as he informed them, "Whatever package you ordered, arrived about five minutes ago. I told Alfred I'd give you the message."

"Thank you," Lex sighed, leaning back in the tub and closing his eyes. "I know that Alfred's seen a lot in his life, but I'm rather glad that I don't have to face him right now."

Chuckling openly now, Dick commented, "I've had mornings like that. Makes you feel about twelve, doesn't he?"

"Try six," Lex muttered.

Dick pushed off from the door. "I'll tell Alfred that you'll be down in a half hour?"

Lex nodded, then looked over at Clark and requested, "Would you give us a minute of privacy, Clark?"

"Sure," Clark agreed. He bent down and kissed the top of Lex's head before leaving the room, and then the bedroom altogether.

Curious, Dick asked, "What's up?"

Shifting in the tub, Lex looked up at him and countered, "What's going on between you and Bruce?"

"Nothing," Dick answered easily, even as he stiffened internally.

Grinning faintly, Lex accused, "You're such a liar. Tell me what the fuck's going on. I've never heard you two this bad before."

With a sigh, Dick sat on the toilet, running a hand through his hair as he explained, "He's an overbearing bastard with a martyr complex. What else is there to say?"

"He's family, Dick. You're supposed to make allowences for little things like that."

"Little things...!?" Dick's protest fell off as he caught the twinkle in Lex's eyes. Snorting, he continued, "You're such an asshole."

"What's your point?"

Leaning his elbows on his knees, Dick said slowly, "He's driving me crazy, Lex. I swear to God he's going over the deep edge."

Frowning now, Lex asked, "How so?"

"It's...hard to explain."

"Try me."

The steeley tone reminded Dick that Lex had just as much to lose from Bruce's instability as he did, maybe more if they didn't recover those meteors. "When we first started working together, when Bruce took me in after my family's deaths, I was a little wild."

Lex snorted.

"Yeah, well, he helped me get over it," Dick said, smiling faintly. "Or, so I thought. I just...the anniversary of their deaths was last month and I've been...tense. Bruce though, it's like he has to be with me every second of the day to make sure that I don't do something stupid. Like I would? I don't want to kill myself, I'm just working out some aggression, you know? But he just won't believe me."

Lex thought about it then said, "It sounds like he's just concerned."

Irritated, Dick snapped, "He doesn't fucking trust me and without that, how can we be partners? How can he even think to help me when he won't tell me everything? I know there's something else driving him, Lex. I know it, because I know him. Maybe he's not even telling himself the truth, I don't know."

For some reason, the remark made Lex stiffen, though Dick couldn't figure out why it would upset the other man. Shrugging to himself, he continued, "In any case, I'm not going to change just because he's having issues."

"No, of course not," Lex agreed slowly.

"So? Is the intervention over with? I think you're starting to prune," Dick observed.

Snorting, Lex nodded. "Yeah, go on. I'll be down soon."

Dick nodded and stood. He paused at the door and said awkwardly, "Thanks for asking, though."

"Sure. And Dick?"

"Yeah?"

"Be patient with Bruce. He's new to having family and more than a little suspicious about the whole trusting thing."

Sensing something deeper in Lex's advice, Dick hesitated then offered, "Sounds like you should listen to yourself, Lex. I'll see you later."

Dick could feel Lex's gaze on him even after he left the bathroom.

* * * *

Clark wandered downstairs in search of food. He'd missed breakfast to take care of Lex and just could not wait for lunch, even though it was only a short time away. He needed something before he keeled over.

"Looking for something?"

Clark jumped in surprise, hating that Bruce could move so quietly. He took in the guarded expression and groaned to himself. Obviously being told that he was Superman had changed the other man's opinion of Clark. "Food."

A glimmer of amusement briefly flickered through Bruce's eyes as he observed, "I understand you and Lex had an...athletic night."

Snorting, Clark nodded and agreed, "We did. And I'm starving."

"Follow me," Bruce offered.

Clark did, through quite a number of rooms, and they arrived in a huge, cavernous kitchen with a massive refrigerator. He opened it and grinned at all the food, snagging a hunk of cheese, the mayo and searched until he found the cold cuts. He glanced at Bruce with, "Bread?"

Looking stymied, Bruce admitted, "No idea."

"Rich boys," Clark muttered, shaking his head with a grin.

He scanned the area and found the bread in the logical place: beside the fridge. He found a knife and put together a couple of sandwiches. Munching on one, he returned to the fridge and pulled out a gallon of milk then looked for glasses. If he'd been at home or his parent's, he'd have just drunk directly from the plastic container, but he wasn't and manners had been drilled into him from day one.

Clark felt Bruce's gaze on him the whole time, but ignored it. Returning to the other man, Clark poured a glass and asked, "You want any?"

"No, lunch is coming up," Bruce declined.

With a shrug, Clark drank the milk then started eating the second sandwich, finally beginning to feel like he wasn't going to pass out. The would teach him to miss supper and breakfast.

"So. Superman?"

Half-grinning, Clark said, "I didn't come up with the name, Lois did."

Startled, Bruce asked, "She knows?"

"Oh, no! No, that was after I'd rescued her the first time," Clark explained. He belched comfortably, then continued, "'Scuse me. Are you going to be able to steel the red Kryptonite?"

"I'll know better after I see the plans," Bruce answered.

Clark nodded understanding and said awkwardly, "I really appreciate this, Bruce. I mean, I know you and Lex are close, but it's a big undertaking and not something that you're really used to doing. At least, well, Lex didn't mention that you had a background in breaking and entering high security facilities."

Instead of grinning at the joke, Bruce frowned for a long moment. Then, a bit nonplussed, he said, "That's okay. Being a corporate executive does give me some experience."

Chuckling, Clark agreed, "That's what Lex said. Just, you know, try and keep Dick out of trouble. I know he wants to help, but even with the circus background, this is going to be difficult."

"Clark, didn't Lex..."

When Bruce's voice trailed off, Clark asked curiously, "Didn't Lex what?"

"Uh, did Lex tell you when he was going to come down?" Bruce finished.

Though he was pretty sure that hadn't been what Bruce was going to say, Clark shrugged it off and answered, "Should be any time now. He just needed to talk to Dick about something."

Bruce stiffened completely at that and moved to leave when Alfred informed them, "Lunch is ready, sirs."

Clark grinned sunnily at Alfred, who smiled back with affection, and stated, "I have no idea where the dining room is."

"I'm sure Master Bruce will be able to guide you," Alfred replied. "Mr. Luthor and Master Dick are already seated."

"Cool. Thanks, Alfred!"

Alfred nodded, glanced briefly but pointedly at Bruce, then left.

Sighing with obvious aggravation, Bruce motioned for Clark to precede him.

Clark ignored the older man's bad mood and moved in the direction Bruce had indicated. It wasn't long before his hearing picked up Lex and Dick's voices but he slowed as the words made themselves clear.

"I'm telling you, there's nothing like it," Lex said, his voice almost dreamy.

"I bet. Hey, remember when we borrowed that Testerossa right off the floor? I thought the sales guy was going to have a heart attack!"

Lex chuckled and agreed, "He looked pretty close to it."

"You looked incredible, practically orgasmic, driving that machine," Dick teased.

"Clark? Clark, you have to actually walk if you want to get somewhere."

Snapping back to attention, Clark looked at Bruce, his heart picking up speed at the easy interplay between Dick and Lex. The undercurrent of affection and...something else...belied the teasing words. "So um, how long have Dick and Lex known each other?"

Surprised by the question, Bruce answered, "Since Dick became my ward, about four years ago."

"And they're close?" Clark questioned. "As close as you and Lex?"

Bruce looked at Clark shrewdly and said, "Lex and I were never as close as you're thinking, Clark. And I'd sure as hell know if Lex and Dick had been that close."

Flushing, Clark ducked his head and started towards the dining room just across the room.

* * * *

When Clark and Bruce entered the room, Lex saw right away that something was wrong and sighed. Wonderful. What the fuck had Bruce said to get Clark looking like that? When Clark sat beside him, Lex brushed his knuckles across his lover's cheek and asked, "Everything all right?"

"Fine," Clark answered, only briefly meeting his eyes.

Shit! Sighing to himself, Lex glared over at Bruce, but the other man was staring at Dick, who was, naturally, looking at them. Forcing himself back on track, Lex announced, "The package that arrived has the security plans in it. We should go over them."

"I was thinking about that," Dick said.

"Uh oh," Lex teased.

Eyes rolling, Dick continued, "Why not just walk in? Force Lionel to entertain Bruce while I get accidentally lost. I can disappear pretty quickly when I want to, and he wouldn't suspect me. The man's never even met me. I can do the whole wide-eyed country bumpkin thing."

Bruce snorted. "Right. Country bumpkin."

"Hey! It's called acting."

"And you're good at that, aren't you?"

Sensing that things were about to get quickly out of hand, Lex interjected, "That's a good idea. Though, knowing my father, someone will be assigned to watch you."

With a smirk, Dick bragged, "I can lose anyone, anytime, any place."

"I bet," Lex agreed dryly.

"We can't just walk in without Lionel suspecting something," Bruce stated.

Dick glanced at him. "So make up a business reason. Try and buy something of his and he'll probably invite you down to talk you out of it. Or at least figure out how to blackmail you into not doing it."

Startled, Lex met Bruce's gaze, then grinned. "You know what? He's got a point."

* * * *

The study was dark, with only the desk lamp switched on, and it took a moment for Lex's eyes to adjust to the interior. He found Bruce in the familiar position of looking out the window and asked, "Everything all right?"

"I should be asking you that," Bruce countered, glancing over at him.

Shrugging, Lex said, "It'll be a few days before sitting will be a pleasant activity again."

With a grin, Bruce stated, "I was talking about Clark."

"Oh," Lex murmured, grinning in return. "Sorry."

"No, it's actually fun to watch you trying not to squirm, even with a cushion."

Making a face, Lex questioned, "Why do you ask about Clark?"

"Why didn't you tell him about me?"

Lex froze, then sighed. "Because I didn't want him to know just yet. If you and Dick don't find the kryptonite and he gets exposed again..."

Nodding slowly, Bruce allowed, "True. But Lex, you shouldn't keep him in the dark about important things."

"I don't, normally," Lex protested.

Bruce arched an eyebrow at him.

"I don't!"

"Lex... Not only doesn't he know about me, which I can understand under the circumstances, but he doesn't even know about you and I."

Flushing, Lex looked away from the piercing gaze and felt the beginnings of a migraine pulse at the back of his skull. "I just...it didn't seem important until now and now, well, you know Clark. He'll blow everything out of proportion and get all upset."

"I think he's got a right to be upset," Bruce pointed out. "You were lying to him."

"I never lied."

"Withheld things. And a lie by omission, is still a lie," Bruce dismissed.

Not really up to dealing with Bruce's black and white concepts of justice and truth, Lex sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look. I'll tell him everything once that fucking kryptonite is destroyed. Until then, he doesn't need to know."

Lips pursed, Bruce shrugged, silently indicating his disapproval.

* * * *

Dick jogged easily through the hall, trying to get out for the night before Bruce could find and stop him. He skidded to a halt when raised voices warned him that the way was blocked. Clark and Lex arguing. Uh oh. That couldn't be good. Curious despite his better judgement, he peeked around the corner and found that Clark had Lex pinned to the wall, holding him even though he was struggling to get free.

Anger rose quickly but, just as Dick was going to stride forward, Clark released Lex, a horrified expression on his face. Technically Clark was older than him by a few years, but Dick always felt like the other man was younger because everything he felt could be seen on his face.

Lex moved towards Clark, but the younger man backed away, his hands up as though to ward Lex off. Fear and despair were clearly written on the reporter's face as he gasped, "God, Lex, it's getting worse!"

Lex shook his head and assured him, "Clark, relax, you just lost your temper."

Now backed up against the wall, Clark shook his head emphatically and exclaimed, "I pinned you there and you're already hurt! Lex, God, the voices, you have to stop them!"

Voices? Well fuck, that definitely can't be good, Dick thought in apprehension.

Taking Clark's hand and gently pulling him close, moving slow as though courting a skittish animal, Lex wrapped his arms around Clark, who fell to his knees and clung to his lover. Bent over him, running his hands through the dark hair, Lex soothed, "It's going to be okay, Clark, I promise. You'd never hurt me, I know that, I trust you."

"I don't trust myself. I hurt you last night, remember?"

Dick stiffened in surprise at the revelation. He'd thought that the men had just had some rough sex or gotten over-enthusiastic, but if Clark had deliberately hurt Lex...

"I'm fine, Clark, it's nothing."

Muffled now that his face was turned into Lex's stomach, Clark answered, "I'm a monster!"

"You are not a monster!" Lex hissed furiously. He cupped Clark's face and forced the other man to look up. "Do you hear me? You are the kindest man I've ever met and none of this is your fault! It's my fucking father's fault and once you're recovered completely, this will just be a bad memory."

"You can't know..."

"I do know. If you don't trust yourself, Clark, then trust me."

For a moment, Dick thought that Clark was going balk at the order, and it was nothing less, but then he seemed to melt against Lex.

Lex breathed a deep sigh of relief and kissed the top of Clark's head and said, "It's going to be all right, Clark. Just a little while longer, I promise."

Clark nodded and murmured something too low for Dick to make out. A slow smile crossed Lex's face though, and suddenly he had the feeling that now would be a really good time to leave.

"Sure, Clark, feel free to make it up to me however you like."

Oh fuck, Dick thought dizzily as Clark immediately began unbuckling Lex's belt and then unzipping and lowering the pants themselves.

Funny how he'd seen Lex completely naked just that morning and yet the sight before him right then and there was nowhere near the same vein. Dick's jaw dropped when Clark just seemed to swoop onto the half-hard cock and go down all the way. Uncomfortable with what he was witnessing, Dick tried to make his feet move, but couldn't.

There was something utterly erotic and loving about the way Clark was sucking on Lex as though his life depended on it. Then, too, the look on Lex's face as he staggered back against the wall sent a flush of heat through him as well. The long, elegant fingers combed through Clark's hair to take a firm grip. The lovers' eyes locked and then Lex...

Dick swallowed heavily and thought, He's fucking Clark's mouth. Fuck, that's hot!

It wasn't as though he hadn't been on the receiving end of a blowjob before, because he had. Dick remembered that quite a few of them had literally blown his mind and he'd certainly enjoyed each and every one the ladies had bestowed one upon him. But this...this was raw and primal, connection between two people at its deepest core.

Suddenly embarrassed to be essentially spying on his friends, Dick jerked away from the corner and slipped away as silently as he could.

* * * *

Bruce looked up as Dick passed by his office for the second time. Grinning to himself, he called out, "Dick? Something you need?"

Dick appeared a few moments later and walked in, looking very ill-at-ease.

"What's wrong?"

Slumping into the chair in front of the desk, Dick looked at him and asked, "Do you ever get lonely?"

Completely surprised at the question, Bruce took a moment to think then clarified slowly, "For a woman?"

With a shrug, Dick answered, "For someone to understand you. To, to take all of your mistakes in stride and love you anyhow."

A glimmer of comprehension surfaced. "You're talking about Clark and Lex, or, as I like to call them, Clex."

Dick snorted at the nickname. "Funny."

"I doubt Lex would think so," Bruce countered dryly. "But to answer your question, yes, I do."

"So why don't you ever do anything about it?"

"Because I doubt there's a woman out there who would agree with what I do, or how I do it, let alone both," Bruce answered easily.

Dick looked at him earnestly. "But you don't know until you try, right?"

Not wanting to shatter any illusions that Dick might somehow still have, Bruce smiled and replied, "Right. But for myself, there's too many other things going on in my life to even attempt to find someone romantically."

Dick hesitated, then asked, "So, you do think that there's someone for everyone out there?"

Bruce nodded instantly, knowing that nothing less than absolute certainty would reassure his young friend. And he did want to reassure Dick, despite his own horrible experiences in the romantic department. "I do."

Seeming to relax, Dick half-smiled, then straightened in his chair, his smile fading fast.

"What?" Bruce demanded warily. That particular expression usually only showed up in very, very bad situations.

"What do we do about a crazy Superman?"

* * * *

The week had been bright and sunny, the worst combination in Lionel's opinion. It made people slack off, caused them to forget that life was hard and should be waged like a war. Anything less than total victory was defeat. And to prove his point, Bruce Wayne had somehow managed to worm his way into a deal that was going to bring LuthorCorp back into top fighting condition.

Opposite him was the man himself: confident, sleek, dark, and looking as though nothing in the world could stop him. Not even God.

Forcing a smile, Lionel leaned forward, his fingers lacing together. "What is your interest in acquiring such a large portion of LuthorCorp Stock, Wayne? We both know that you have no use for me."

Wayne smirked and replied, "I warned you to leave Lex and Clark alone and you didn't take me seriously. I thought that it was time for a lesson."

Though his jaw tightened, Lionel stated, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about your other son. The one who almost killed Lex. I want you to give him up," Wayne informed him.

"I don't know where Lucas is."

"You're lying."

"Actually, I'm not," Lionel informed him. "I helped break him out, gave him some money and told him to disappear. And in that respect, he's been more than successful. Not even my people have been able to track him down."

Wayne stared at him, revealing nothing of what was going on in his thoughts. "If I find out that you are lying to me, I'll buy you out, Lionel."

The first hint of fear slithered into Lionel's gut at the matter-of-fact statement, but he let none of that show. He merely smiled and replied, "I think you'll find that a bit more difficult to do than you realize."

Just then, Bruce's cell rang and he puled it out, looking briefly at the ID. "What is it? Are you sure? All right. You've got another half-hour to finish it and that's it, understood?"

Somehow, Lionel didn't want to be whichever employee was giving Wayne such bad news. In all his dealings with Wayne before this, he hadn't ever really seen just how ruthless the other man was. He could almost approve of Lex's friendship now that he knew.

Getting to his feet, Wayne pulled an envelope from his inside breast-pocket and tossed it across the table saying, "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the restroom. Look these over while I'm gone."

Lionel caught the envelope, and when the door closed behind the other man, Lionel opened the envelope. Paling, the sick feeling intensified as Lionel quickly scanned the documents.

* * * *

LuthorCorp was like a rabbit warren and Dick would have been lost inside of a minute if he hadn't memorized the plans. Losing his escort was easy enough, given the sedative mist that was tucked away as breath mint in his pocket. Snickering somewhat meanly to himself, Dick had left the man in the bathroom, complete with pulled down pants to make him think that he'd nodded off in the middle of taking care of business.

He'd transferred the magnetic code of the security badge to a blank one thanks to one of Bruce's handy little Batman gadgets. From the bathroom, he'd gone to the security closet and waited three minutes for the shift change. The visit had been very carefully timed and Dick had exactly a half hour to find and retrieve or destroy the red Kryptonite and then get back to the lobby where his guard would be waking up and Bruce would be finished with Lionel.

Slipping inside the small room filled with cameras and control panels, Dick thanked God for his mother's insistence on a well-rounded education that included taking apart anything mechanical, not just motorcycles. It had only taken a minute to figure things out and put all the cameras on loop instead of record.

Using gloves of course; they didn't care if Lionel found out, they just didn't want to him to know who did it.

The service elevator was empty, no deliveries at that time of day, and responded easily to his key card. The labs were in the bottom three sub-basements, but Clark remembered only being on the first level. Hopefully Clark's memory was right and that was where they were being kept. Stopping the elevator, Dick walked out and looked both ways down the hall.

The technicians were away from their desks at various weekly staff meetings, but the scientists themselves were impossible to predict. Most, being supervisors as well as scientists, would also be involved in the meetings, but they were a capricious bunch and Dick was planning on being stopped at some point. There was just no way that he'd make it through three floors without being spotted.

Not even Bruce was that good.

* * * *

With all his focus on the research project Lois had stuck on him at the last second, Jimmy didn't notice Clark until the other man cleared his throat. Looking up in surprise, he grinned and exclaimed, "Hey, Clark, I thought you were sick!"

Clark grinned faintly and agreed, "I am. You didn't see me, if Mr. White asks."

With a chuckle, Jimmy prompted, "Looking for Lois?"

"Yeah, she didn't answer my voice mail or my page."

Jimmy grinned at the quasi-indignant tone and motioned him closer. When Clark was within easy earshot, he informed the reporter, "She's on a date."

Clark blinked in surprise. "A date?"

Nodding emphatically, remembering the morning's event, Jimmy said, "Yeah! A dozen, long-stemmed red roses arrived this morning and she got all flustered."

"Flustered?"

"Uh huh. She told Mary, Mr. White's secretary, who told Kyle the kid who does the mail, who told me," Jimmy explained. Snorting, he continued, "It's kind of like Ferris Beuller."

"Who?"

Jimmy's jaw dropped. "You don't know who...never mind. It's the grapevine, Clark, and it says that she has a hot and heavy date, which she left early to get ready for. Not from the grapevine was her shout that anyone who disturbed her would be shot and left for dead."

Clark snorted. "So who's the date with?"

Jimmy's grin reappeared and he answered smugly, "Superman. It's about time, isn't it?"

* * * *

Freezing completely at Jimmy's explanation, Clark couldn't even draw in a breath at first. His mind immediately went to the fact that Lucas was on the loose and probably gunning for him. The best way to take out Clark was with a kryptonite bullet, the second best was by hurting Lex and Lois rounded out the top three...which everyone on the entire planet knew. Or at least those who read the Daily Planet.

"Clark? You okay, man?" Jimmy asked with concern.

Finally gathering his wits, Clark nodded and answered, "Fine, yeah. Uh, I need to go. I'll catch you later."

Without waiting for an answer, Clark ran out of the office as fast as he could.

* * * *

Dick was about ready to scream with frustration. He'd searched the entire first floor and knew that there was no way that he'd make it back in time. It wasn't like there was going to be another opportunity for this, either. Finding a nice hide-away, he pulled out his cell and called Bruce.

"What is it?"

"What do you think? There's not enough time!" Dick exclaimed softly.

"Are you sure?"

"No, I'm guessing."

"All right. You've got another half-hour to finish it and that's it, understood?"

"Got it. The guard's in the bathroom and the mist should wear off in about five more minutes."

Bruce disconnected and Dick slipped the phone back in his pocket. Another thirty-five minutes, tops. Not enough time to search the remaining floors, not by a long stretch. Taking a breath, he thought about things for a moment only this time, thought like Lionel Luthor. Or, tried to since that kind of person was pretty much incomprehensible.

Paranoia, first and foremost, followed closely by possessiveness. The man had a patent on all of the above and would, naturally, feel as though these rocks were something special. He would have his best people working on it. The best people were scattered throughout, though, so it wasn't as though Dick had only one area to search.

Of course, there was also the vanity factor, that Luthor would want easy access for himself. He'd want to be able to look at his prize any time he felt like it. Biting his lip, Dick looked around the sterile lab, just letting his mind roam. With a grimace, he moved things around on the desk, not really knowing what he was looking for.

Voices outside caught his attention and Dick glanced out of the window into the hall to find two pretty young women in technician coats, obviously coming back from lunch. His lips quirked into a sly grin and he thought, Well, when all else fails, flirt.

* * * *

Mercy tracked Clark down the stairwell, into the lobby of the Daily Planet until he practically flew out of the front door, making a bee-line for the car where she was waiting. Nice of him to have an alien physiology. It made her job so much simpler to keep track of him amidst all the other people.

Sliding in the passenger's seat as he ran around the car and into the driver's side, Mercy glanced at her erstwhile employer silently.

"Lois is on a date with Superman," Clark informed her tersely as he turned on the car and pulled into traffic without looking.

Mercy's lips pursed thoughtfully.

"Exactly," Clark snapped. "I'm going to kill her once I get her back safe and sound!"

Hiding a grin, Mercy looked out into traffic, thankful that it wasn't Lex behind the wheel. Hope had told her all about their other employer's lack of care while driving. It took a lot to make Hope nervous and driving with Lex, when the man was upset or in a foul mood, definitely made her partner nervous. It was, most likely, due to the fact that the man healed incredibly fast and it took a lot to damage him in the first place. He just didn't care about trashing his cars by getting into accidents.

They were only in the car for a few silent minutes before pulling in front of Lois' apartment building.

"Stay here so I don't get a ticket," Clark ordered before hopping out of the car.

Mercy nodded and reached over to turn off the car before getting out and leaning against it. She faced the building and tracked Clark through the building and up the stairs, the young man moving far faster than any human, but slower than his full strength. Keeping an eye on him now, when Clark was still weakened was a challenge. Mercy wasn't looking forward to trying to keep him under surveillance when he could fly at a moment's notice. That was one ability she hadn't yet developed, much to her vast disappointment.

Pursing her lips again, she mused, Maybe if Hope gets over that vertigo thing, we could figure out a way to do it.

* * * *

"So? How'd it go?" Bruce asked when they entered the car. He put the key in the ignition, but didn't turn it.

Dick smirked. "I got two phone numbers and a date for this Saturday night."

Eyes rolling, Bruce prompted, "The red kryptonite?"

"Oh, that."

"Yes, that."

Grinning now, Dick looked at his watch and counted down, "Six, five, four, three, two, one."

Bruce frowned. "What's that for?"

Alarms started blaring and, just then, employees streamed out of the office building across the street. Bruce shook his head and glanced pointedly back at Dick, who just grinned back at him. "I'm waiting."

"I hid the kryptonite in a janitor's closet, then set off a bomb where it used to be. Lionel will think it's been destroyed and now we can go back in and get it later when there's more time," Dick explained.

"No chance on someone getting hurt, was there?"

"Nope."

"And it's well hidden?"

"Yep."

With an exasperated and reluctant, but warm grin, Bruce shook his head and commented, "You were lucky."

"Hey! Luck had nothing to do with it!" Dick protested indignantly. "That was all skill."

Bruce snorted and started the car. "Let's go, Romeo. We need to tell Lex and Clark how things went."

* * * *

Lex looked up as Clark entered the penthouse and groaned to himself. That particular stormy expression meant that something was up between Lois and Clark, and not something good. It had preceded each and every time that Clark and Lois had "broken up." Waiting until Clark was in the kitchen and flinging around pots and pans, and Lex completely blamed Martha for the extra weight he put on when Clark was in a bad mood, Lex joined him there and leaned against the counter. "How's Lois?"

"I wouldn't know because she's on a date with Superman!"

Blinking in surprise, Lex repeated, "A date with Superman?"

Clark slammed the milk onto the counter and started digging around the cabinet for something with a muffled, "Yes! Which, as you and I both know, is impossible. Unfortunately, I can't hear her or fly around to look for her and she's not answering her cell or home phone number!"

Sliding down a pace when Clark came out with a box of baking chocolate, Lex didn't even try to soothe Clark. Nothing would help this except finding Lois, which Lex would start his people on just as soon as he listened to Clark vent. At least doing that would, hopefully, tell him where she wasn't.

"I looked everywhere!" Clark snapped, spinning towards the fridge and yanking out butter and baking powder. "I called every single one of our contacts. I checked all her haunts and even called her mother."

Lex barely repressed a shudder at that. "You're a braver man than I."

Glaring at him, Clark exclaimed, "Lois has vanished, has probably been kidnapped, and you stand there cracking jokes?"

With a shrug, Lex pointed out mildly, "You're baking brownies."

"I am not," Clark muttered sullenly. "I'm baking muffins."

Arching an eyebrow, Lex questioned, "Chocolate muffins?"

Issuing another glare, Clark deliberately turned away and started mixing up his ingredients. He was only partway through when he fell to his knees, hands covering his ears as he writhed in agony. Lex was almost instantly at his side, arms around Clark and supporting him. "What's wrong? Clark, what's happening?"

* * * *

Lucas grinned as he leaned casually back in the comfortable leather chair, settling the headset more comfortably on his head. The setup around him was as high-tech as possible and he upped the frequency just out of spite, knowing that it would hurt Superman like ten times a set of nails on a chalkboard. For all the crap he went through in prison, the bastard could wriggle like a worm on a hook for a few minutes before they got down to business.

Smirking, he glanced over at his captive audience, who glared back at him, eyes blazing. If looks could kill, he'd be a sizzled husk on the floor right then and there. Lucas had finally had to gag Lois, she'd been so loud and vocal in her defiance. Personally, he didn't see the attraction, but knew that his father had plans for the reporter that didn't involve her journalistic skills.

With a final shark's grin at the woman, Lucas started the conversation with, "Superman? I know you can hear me…"

* * * *

A piercing whine, similar to that of a jet engine, sliced through Clark's head and dropped him to his knees. He vaguely felt Lex's arms around him, holding him up, as he tried unsuccessfully to push aside the pain that etched along all his nerve endings.

"Superman? I know you can hear me. This broadcast frequency is far higher than that of human capability, so I know no one else will intercept my message. This is Lucas Luthor and I have Ms. Lane in my possession. If you wish to keep her alive, you will do exactly what I say. A package will be delivered to Clark Kent, since I know how close you two are, and you will follow the instructions found there. And just to show what a good sport I am, there'll be an internet address inside that connects to a live feed where Ms. Lane can be seen, alive and kicking."

The high-pitch stopped with the words and Clark sagged into Lex's arms, exhausted, his body still echoing with the pain.

"Clark please, come on, please answer me!"

Coming abruptly back to the present, Clark was not only surrounded by Lex, but Mercy was directly beside his lover and Hope stood guard only a few feet away, glaring at an invisible enemy. Clark turned his face into the hand cupping his cheek and gasped, "I'm fine now, it's stopped."

The frantic worry abated, but didn't leave Lex's eyes altogether. "What happened?"

"It was Lucas," Clark explained. "He's got Lois and is sending a package here for me."

Lex went rigid and demanded, "He knows you're Superman?"

"No, me as Clark, not me as Superman," Clark corrected, struggling to sit up.

Helping him into a sitting position, but keeping hold of him, Lex asked, "What does he want?"

"I don't know. Said there'd be instructions in the package."

"God. Clark, this can't be good."

With a shaky sigh, Clark met his eyes again and agreed, "I know."

* * * *

The penthouse was silent when Dick and Bruce stepped off the elevator and twin frowns surfaced as they came to a stop just inside. There was a strange feeling to the air, expectant and heavy, like before a massive storm. Looking up at Bruce, Dick offered quietly, "Something's wrong."

Bruce nodded, but didn't answer. Instead, he motioned for Dick to go left while he went right. Dick nodded and started down the hall while Bruce headed for the kitchen. And that was where he found Clark, Lex, Hope and Mercy, all staring at Lex's laptop on the kitchen table. Curious as to what would have them all so riveted, especially the women, Bruce continued forward, not surprised when Mercy silently gave way so he could look.

On the screen, clear as day, was Lois. She was fine, but bound to a chair and gagged, struggling against the ropes that were plainly cutting painfully into her body. "What's going on?"

Clark raised furious and implacable eyes to him and replied, "Lucas has Lois. He wants me to leave the planet, or he'll kill her and set off a nuclear device in the heart of the city. For starters."

Shocked, Bruce demanded, "What's the deadline?"

"Two hours."

"But you can't fly."

"I know."

"So you can't leave."

"I know."

Well. This is an interesting development, Bruce mused. "So what are you going to do?"

Clark grinned, which set off shivers of unease in Bruce, and answered, "I'm going to find Lucas in the next two hours and take care of him like I should have when he kidnapped Lex. Permanently."